Pupils sound-off at noise pollution workshops

Barry Hunt

Published: 6:22 PM October 30, 2014 Updated: 8:03 PM November 1, 2020

Stonehill School Year 6 students discussing potential noise pollution issues on a fun town layout - Credit: Archant

Pupils at Stonehill, Grange, St Thomas More and Garden City Academy schools have been learning about the exciting science of sound and how sound waves travel as part of a noise education initiative.

At workshops organised by housing association North Hertfordshire Homes, nine, 10 and 11 year old pupils start the session with a ‘scream-off’ between teams. A noise monitor records the loudest team which at Stonehill School was a whopping 132.1 decibels – nearly as loud as a jet plane taking off.

The students take part in a number of activities from spotting causes of nuisance noise to making suggestions for how noise can be reduced. The workshops which are supported by North Hertfordshire District Council’s Environmental Health Team culminate in a competition to see which group can create the best soundproofed box with the winning team receiving a noise monitor.

Stonehill Year 6 teacher, Jenna Birkbeck said: “This is a great way for pupils to learn about sound as part of the national curriculum. The activities are encouraging collaboration and discussion and they are very engaged with the subject.”

Gary Mallett, anti-social behavior officer at North Hertfordshire Homes, said: “I’ve been very impressed with the students’ contribution and ideas. They are incredibly aware of what ASB is and how it can effect others. These workshops help to show what is acceptable and what is not, so they can take their own constructive action to manage noise.”

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Daniel Rose, Environmental Health Technical Officer, said: “The sessions were a great way to demonstrate to the pupils, in a fun and interactive way, what constitutes a noise nuisance and helped give them an understanding of how to prevent making disturbances themselves. We were also able to illustrate the work the Council does with regard to noise monitoring and we hope the children had an enjoyable and informative experience”.

All school winners will go forward to a grand finale at the end of March when their sound-proofed boxes will compete in a ‘sound-off’ with every winning team member receiving a noise monitor.