West Lothian College joined a global campaign focused on sustainability in education.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Teach-In initiative encourages educators worldwide to integrate the goals into their teaching and learning practices.

By incorporating goals, such as no poverty, zero hunger, good health and wellbeing, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, climate action, sustainable cities and communities, the Teach-In inspires the next generation to act for a better, more sustainable future.

As part of the campaign, West Lothian College hosted a four-day event from 3 March to 6 March, welcoming more than 800 primary school pupils and their teachers from across the county.

Caroline Jarvis, childhood practice lecturer at the college led the project.

She said: “This year’s annual SDG Teach-In event had local school children coming onto campus to work with our students so that they could jointly learn and about the 17 sustainable goals.

“Around 800 children from primary one to primary seven visited us over the course of the week, working with over 400 students who are studying subjects like art, childhood practice, sport and fitness, uniformed public services, construction, assisted programmes, social science and science.”

The annual event encourages outdoor learning, sustainability and creativity through a variety of hands-on activities, including outdoor exploration and den building, sustainability-themed artwork and building homes for nature’s animals.

“We had lots of workshops, with a lot of outdoor learning” Caroline added. “Pupils took part in lab-based learning with our science students and the Scottish Fire and Rescue team also led activities on campus.”

College principal, Jackie Galbraith said: “West Lothian College has ambitious targets to tackle the climate emergency. Our annual, week-long Teach-In where staff and students deliver sustainability workshops for primary pupils is a fantastic way to ensure that the need to act to save our planet is well understood by those who will benefit most from it.”