afa Community School Flag Reaches Antarctica!
We are incredibly proud to share that Safa Community School’s flag has made it all the way to Antarctica! As part of the Antarctic Flags Project, our students' artwork embarked on an extraordinary journey across some of the most remote and scientifically important regions of the world.
Earlier this year, students entered a competition to design flags that would be taken aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough during a research expedition to Antarctica. The mission explored how the Southern Ocean impacts global climate, studying everything from sea floor creatures and microscopic marine life to whales, seals, and penguins – including a special iceberg visit from some curious Chinstrap penguins!
Our school’s winning flag was proudly photographed at South Georgia, a remote island teeming with wildlife, and features Dr Sally Thorpe, one of the expedition’s scientists. She shared her excitement about the flag and explained the purpose of their eight-week voyage, which travelled from Punta Arenas in Chile to the South Sandwich Islands, South Orkney Islands, and eventually to the Falkland Islands, all while gathering important climate and ecological data.
“Thank you for participating in the Antarctic Flags Project! We’ve loved seeing your fabulous artwork,” said Dr Thorpe. “Antarctica is an amazing place to work, and what happens here matters to everyone around the world.”
The following students were recognised for their outstanding designs:
Winning Designs
- Francesca (Y9)
- Zena (Y8)
Runner-Up Designs (Combined Entries)
- Kuba (Y10)
- Giacomo (Y8)
- Maya (Y8)
- Aashi (Y9)
- Mia (Y9)
- Fadi (Y13)
Well done to all students involved – your flags have officially made it to the end of the Earth! This exciting opportunity has connected our students with real-world science and highlighted the global importance of climate action.
We extend our thanks to Dr Sally Thorpe and the British Antarctic Survey for including Safa Community School in this inspiring project. To learn more about the research conducted during the expedition, visit the following websites:
- BIOPOLE: https://biopole.ac.uk/
- Polar Ocean Ecosystem Time Series: https://www.bas.ac.uk/project/poets-wcb/
- A23 Repeat Section: https://www.bas.ac.uk/project/a23-repeat-section/
We hope this unforgettable experience continues to inspire our students to think globally, act sustainably, and dream boldly.
