Cleaner Air, Healthier Classrooms, Better Learning!

We are delighted to have taken delivery of ten brand-new Blast air filtration units, generously provided to Eastbrook Primary through the Mayor of London's School Filters Programme.

Some time ago, we were contacted by the Mayor of London's office about an initiative aimed at improving air quality in London schools, particularly those located close to busy roads. Given Eastbrook's proximity to a main road, we were fortunate to be selected to benefit from this fantastic programme.

The ten large air filtration units have been provided completely free of charge, and we now have one in every mainstream classroom, as well as in our Art room. This is a wonderful investment in the health, wellbeing and learning environment of our children and staff.

You may be wondering just how much difference an air filter can make. Well, the research is quite remarkable!

Air pollution is not just something we encounter outdoors. Tiny airborne particles, including those produced by traffic, can enter school buildings and affect the quality of the air we breathe. The new units use highly effective HEPA filtration technology to capture these particles and help provide a cleaner, healthier classroom environment.

According to research highlighted in the Mayor of London's programme:

• Fewer illness-related absences: Research from the Bradford Class ACT trial found that classrooms equipped with HEPA air filtration systems experienced 20% fewer illness-related absences compared with classrooms without filters.
• Improved concentration: Research suggests that cleaner classroom air can improve pupils' concentration by up to 15%, helping children remain focused and engaged in their learning.
• Significantly reduced air pollution: The larger Blast filtration units, which are the ones we have received at Eastbrook, have been shown to reduce levels of fine particles found in polluted air by approximately 68%.

Of course, these figures come from research conducted elsewhere, and we cannot assume that we will see exactly the same results at Eastbrook. Nevertheless, the evidence is extremely encouraging and highlights just how important the quality of the air we breathe can be.

As a school, we are always looking for ways to improve the environment in which our children learn and grow. We know that children learn best when they feel healthy, comfortable and able to concentrate, and anything we can do to support this is enormously valuable.

We are particularly pleased that this initiative supports two of our most important priorities: improving children's health and wellbeing, and ensuring that every child has the best possible opportunity to attend school regularly and achieve their potential.

We are incredibly grateful to the Mayor of London and everyone involved in making this programme possible. It is a fantastic addition to our school, and one that we hope will benefit our children and staff for many years to come.

Sometimes, the most important improvements we make to a school are not necessarily the ones we can see. In this case, it is about something we cannot see at all - the air our children breathe every day!