Schools from across the Western Cape were honoured on 28 February 2026 at the Sustainable Schools Western Cape Rewards Ceremony, marking the final leg of Nature Connect’s national rewards roadshow, recognising outstanding environmental education and sustainability action during the 2025 school year.
The event brought together educators and partners to celebrate progress across the province while also announcing the programme’s national award winners, following earlier regional ceremonies in Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal
Celebrating Sustainability Action Across the Western Cape
Western Cape schools continued to demonstrate strong engagement in the 2025 Sustainable Schools Programme, implementing action projects across biodiversity, water stewardship, health and well-being, energy, waste reduction, and community upliftment. As with earlier regional events, the ceremony included a hands-on, story-based professional learning experience using BirdLife South Africa’s book, Run Until You Can Fly.
The session used wetlands and catchment systems as a local learning lens, helping teachers translate environmental concepts into practical, curriculum-aligned classroom and school projects.
Recognising sustainability leadership in the Western Cape
Schools were recognised across multiple Sustainable Schools focus areas, reflecting the depth and quality of sustainability action across the province.
Regional Focus Area Winners (Western Cape) included:
- Biodiversity Network – Pinelands High School
- Health & Well-being – Parkwood Primary School
- Energy & Climate Action – Silvermine Academy
- Marine & Coast – St James RC Primary School
- Water & Sanitation – Sweet Valley Primary School
- Production, Consumption & Waste – St Mary’s RC Primary School
- Community & Social Responsibility – St Mary’s RC Primary School
These schools demonstrated particularly strong cross-cutting performance, showing sustained, whole-school approaches across multiple focus areas. The ceremony also recognised schools demonstrating notable progress and leadership across diverse learning contexts. Bel Porto School, a special needs school, received Best Progress for a New School, Harmony Primary School was acknowledged as Most Improved School, while John Graham Primary School received Outstanding Eco Club recognition for strong learner leadership and engagement.
Across the province, three (3) schools achieved 3 Sustainability Stars and nine (9) schools
achieved 2 stars, with strong engagement across diverse school contexts within the
province.
Special regional recognition: Most sustainable school (Western Cape)
St Mary’s RC Primary School was named Most Sustainable School (Western Cape), recognised for its long-term commitment to the programme, whole-school participation and sustained integration of sustainability into school life.
As a low-fee-paying school, St Mary’s progress has been significantly strengthened through strategic partnerships
developed through the programme, helping to accelerate and sustain its environmental initiatives in recent years.
National winner: Most sustainable school in South Africa
As the final ceremony in the national roadshow, the Western Cape event also marked the
official announcement of the Most Sustainable School in South Africa. Monala Primary School earned the national title following a year of consistent, whole school sustainability action and strong learner engagement.
As a no-fee-paying rural school, Monala’s progress highlights the power of committed teacher leadership, community involvement, and strategic programme support in enabling meaningful sustainability action, even in under-resourced contexts. This support has been further strengthened by Lapalala Wilderness School, the programme’s regional partner in Limpopo.
Growing engagement and momentum across the programme
‘Each year we are seeing more schools move beyond initial participation and progress towards higher levels of achievement, with increasing numbers working towards two- and three-Star status. This reflects growing teacher confidence, stronger whole-school involvement, and a deepening commitment to embedding sustainability into everyday teaching and learning,’ said Jocelyn Anderson, Programme Manager for Nature Connect’s Sustainable Schools Programme.
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Also read:
Monala Primary crowned most sustainable school in Northern Region
Picture: Thoriso Boase
