The Argentinian school that has become a living laboratory
Colegio San Pedro Apóstol, an independent nursery, kindergarten, primary and secondary school in Córdoba, Argentina, has transformed its campus into a living laboratory that is igniting student-led environmental initiatives. While the school is situated next to the General San Martín Nature Reserve, a protected area with a great diversity of flora and fauna, a key limitation often found in environmental education is the gap between infrastructure and pedagogy, which the school has closed through its institutional ‘Awareness, Education, and Action’ learning model that ensures environmental literacy begins in nursery and kindergarten and deepens through primary and secondary school.
Serving as the bridge between operational design and its pedagogical mission, the project-based learning approach involves every child and teacher in a shared responsibility towards the environment. Students interact daily with the local ecosystem, working in teams to develop initiatives that include the design and prototyping of bio-filtration devices that save water at drinking fountains. The curriculum is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which are integrated across all subjects, from history to mathematics, and student collaborations with teachers address real environmental challenges in the school, for example, eliminating scorpions through ecological landscaping using plants which act as natural repellents.
Teaching takes place across the full campus ecosystem, which includes extensive green areas and a natural reserve, creating a comprehensive space for interdisciplinary work and experiential learning. The approach has created a culture of solid staff and learner teamwork across projects that integrate science, design, and environmental awareness.
Students consistently achieve high scores in international English examinations, with IELTS results frequently reaching band 7.5 or higher, and the school performs well above average in language and mathematics. Literacy is achieved by first grade, ahead of national benchmarks, and the implementation of the Singapore method in mathematics supports early development of problem-solving skills.
Through the model, 100% of students participate in reforestation, which drives a ‘sustainability first’ mindset where they now lead advocacy for eco-friendly practices in their homes and communities. A student-led bio-filter project earned full university scholarships for the participants.
In terms of environmental impact, its solar plant generates 71.98% of the school's total energy consumption. Since its launch in June 2025, the plant has produced 101,833 kWh of clean energy in less than a year, preventing the emission of 101,500 kg of CO2 (equivalent to 5,601 trees or 40,733 kg of coal saved). It has achieved a 90% reduction in single-use plastics in the main dining hall and a 70% reduction in the canteen by switching to fresh, in-house production and reusable containers, and it composts 100% of garden waste and coffee grounds from staff areas, reintegrating nutrients into the soil. Hydroponic and aquaponic systems achieve a 90% reduction in water usage compared to traditional soil farming.
The school’s work has been recognised nationally, and it has won the National Smoke-Free Spaces Award and the Provincial Healthy Eating Award, certifying its commitment to a non-toxic, healthy environment.
