Sophia High School, a pioneering British Online School for children between the ages 4 to 16, is thrilled to announce its official certification as a B Corp, solidifying its commitment to social and environmental responsibility. Sophia High School becomes the first British school and the only online school worldwide to attain this esteemed certification, joining a select group of companies dedicated to using business as a force for good.
B Corporations, [B Corps], are purpose-driven companies that harness the power of business to address society's most pressing challenges. With a focus on meeting rigorous social and environmental standards, Sophia High School exemplifies its dedication to goals beyond shareholder profit.
Founder of Sophia High School, Melissa McBride, stated, "At Sophia High School, we have always aimed to be a catalyst for positive change in education. Becoming a B Corp is a testament to our unwavering commitment to sustainable practices and fostering global citizenship among our students. We are incredibly proud to be leading the way as the first British school to achieve this prestigious certification."
The certification process involved a comprehensive evaluation, encompassing 285 questions, administered by B Lab, the non-profit organisation driving the B Corp movement. Sophia High School successfully demonstrated its adherence to the highest social and environmental standards, reflecting its dedication to making a positive impact.
Sophia High School began its B Corp journey in the Spring of 2022, when a group of student leaders at the school challenged the leadership team to start the school's B Corp movement after being inspired through the school's curriculum focus on sustainable education and development of students as global citizens. Sophia High School's commitment to sustainability extends beyond the classroom. The school is dedicated to embedding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its future skills curriculum, empowering its students to become ethical leaders and agents of change in a rapidly evolving world.
Leading the B Corp certification project at Sophia High School, Director of New Projects, Vanessa Temple, stated, "Inspired by our students, we embarked on this journey to integrate social and environmental responsibility into every aspect of our school. Becoming a B Corp validates our commitment to sustainable decision-making and our holistic approach to education. We are excited to inspire other educational institutions to follow suit and join the global movement of purpose-driven businesses."
In the words of Melissa McBride, "We firmly believe that education is a powerful tool for shaping the future. By incorporating the SDGs into our curriculum, we are nurturing young minds to become global citizens who actively contribute to a sustainable and equitable society. We hope our success as the first British School to achieve certification will inspire other schools around the world to also start their B Corp journey."
Sophia High School is now part of a community of businesses globally who have certified as B Corps and join a global community of over 7,000 companies across 91 countries that are committed to redefining success in business. This achievement underscores Sophia High School's dedication to excellence in education, social impact, and environmental stewardship. The B Corp community in the UK, representing a broad cross section of industries and sizes, comprises over 950 companies and include well-known brands such as The Guardian, innocent, Patagonia, The Body Shop and organic food pioneers Abel & Cole.
