Why Rastrick students are making a giant turtle out of 2,000 plastic bottles

The project, named The Plastic Ocean, is being spearheaded by a group of the school’s Year seven student leaders and was inspired by Sir David Attenborough’s “Blue Planet” series exploring the devastating effect of plastic waste on the world’s oceans and wildlife.

Students have collected over 2,000 used plastic bottles from across the school during breaks and lunchtimes over the course of one week, which will now be used to design and build a giant sea turtle to be displayed in the school’s atrium.

Year 13 product design student, Amy Jagger, is supporting the younger students with the research and design of the structure.

Steve Evans, head teacher at Rastrick High School, said: “The impact single-use plastic is having on our planet is very concerning. As a school, we have made a new commitment to play our part in tackling the issue by reducing single use plastics across the school, including trying to move away from take away boxes at lunchtime and phasing out plastic forks and straws.

“It is fantastic that this has inspired our students to feel so passionately about delivering their own project to help tackle the problem. The group’s philosophy is ‘it’s our world, we need to act now’, and I am very proud of all their efforts.”

The school has complemented the project with science lessons exploring the side-effects of plastic pollution.