CORVS 2026

On 26th March 2026 the fourth annual CORVS meeting was held at Grindleton Pavilion, hosted by the staff and students of Bowling High School. Participating schools this year were Ribblesdale School, Bowland High, West Craven High School, Witton Park Academy, Pleckgate High School and St Christopher’s, bringing together a diverse group of young people from the Ribble Valley and the wider region, with a shared focus on sustainability.

The theme of the day was designing sustainable classrooms. The day was chaired by Alison Watson MBE, founder of Class of Your Own, who delivered an inspiring guest talk. Students were then tasked with working in small teams, with individuals taking on roles roles such as Project Manager, Engineer, Architect, Community Engagement Manager and Sustainability Consultant, to develop a team plan for an Eco Classroom. At the end of the day each team presented their plans and designs to their fellow attendees and a panel of judges with sustainability expertise.

Experts supporting the workshop were: Fiona Campbell, Sustainability Manager at Johnston Matthey; Ann Vanner, Architect from Healing Buildings; Jeff Marshall, Architect of Grindleton Pavilion; Anne Huson from Grindleton Pavilion, and a local advocate for sustainable building development; Paul Williamson from STRABAG UK, a building construction and civil engineering company; Three civil engineering students from the University of Salford who are working with Class of Your Own. The event was also attended by the Mayor of Ribble Valley, Councillor Simon O’Rourke, highlighting the importance of this initiative within the local community.

The event took place as result of powerful three-way partnership between local schools, industry professionals, and the Ribble Valley Climate Action Network. With the help of Class of Your Own they created a meaningful opportunity for students to engage with real-world challenges and explore future careers in sustainability and the built environment.