Pupils at a Cardiff primary school have turned donated clothes into catwalk fashion as part of a project that has scooped the top prize at a city-wide celebration of climate action in schools.
Children at Radnor Primary School designed, made and modelled upcycled outfits in their own fashion show, part of an Eco Eisteddfod that highlighted the environmental cost of fast fashion and the value of reusing what we already have. Fifteen teams took part, working with clothing donated by local pre-loved boutique Deja Vu.
The fashion show formed part of a wider six week programme of sustainability activities at the school. Pupils wrote and performed eco raps and poetry, debated global issues, wrote letters to the Senedd about active travel, and created artwork from natural and repurposed materials, all designed to bring climate change to life through hands on learning.
Joy in the corridors
Headteacher Louise Williams said the six weeks had been memorable for staff as well as pupils. “My favourite experience during those six weeks was walking the corridors, because you never knew what you were going to see. There was just so much joy, and what the pupils produced was really outstanding,” she said.
“The new Curriculum for Wales is all about authentic experiences, and that is certainly what the children got. The staff were so committed and so engaged with making sure the outcome of developing ethical and informed citizens was there for the children.”
“I really think it will help the children at our school recognise that there are a vast number of things they can do to be eco friendly and contribute to the wider world, and they will thrive on that and take that idea and run with it.”
Grand prize for Radnor Primary
Radnor Primary’s work was recognised at the One Planet Cardiff Schools Celebration Event, held at Cardiff University, where the project won the Creative Sustainability Curriculum of the Year category as well as the overall One Planet Cardiff Schools Grand Prize.
The event brought together pupils and teachers from sixteen schools across the city to showcase work tackling real world environmental challenges, from waste reduction to active travel and energy use, and to help pupils grow into engaged and informed citizens.
Cardiff Council Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Strategic Planning and Transport, Councillor Dan De’Ath, said the creativity and enthusiasm shown by pupils and teachers across the city was genuinely inspiring.
“Projects like Radnor Primary’s Eco Eisteddfod show how climate education can be engaging, practical and empowering. What’s clear is that across Cardiff, pupils are not only learning about climate change, they are also leading action in their communities, from reducing waste to rethinking how we travel and setting the standard for the future.”
Cardiff Council Cabinet Member for Education, Councillor Sarah Merry, said the One Planet Cardiff School Awards were a real showcase for the work schools in the city are doing to weave climate change into the curriculum and help pupils grow into ethical and informed citizens.
The full list of winners
* Eco Committee of the Year: St Illtyd’s Catholic High School
* Eco Schools Zero to Hero Award: Pentyrch Primary School
* Eco Project of the Year: Adamsdown Primary School
* Creative Sustainability Curriculum of the Year: Radnor Primary School
* Best Recycling Improvement 2025/26: Grangetown Primary School
* WOW Travel Tracker, Cardiff School of the Year 2025/26: Lakeside Primary School
The One Planet Cardiff programme aims to help schools embed sustainability into everyday learning and encourage long term behaviour change, from bike buses and gardening projects to litter picks and energy saving initiatives. The celebration event featured pupil led exhibitions, interactive workshops and an awards ceremony recognising standout climate achievements across the city’s schools.
Source: Cardiff Council
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