The Department for Education has published its strategy ‘Sustainability and Climate Change: A Strategy for the Education and Children’s Services Systems’ which states that by 2025, all schools should have:
- A Climate Action Plan – outlining how the schools plan to work towards Net Zero.
- A Sustainability Lead – a individual or team of people who will implement actions to improve the sustainability of the school.
Devon County Council can support schools with a wide range of resources and opportunities to help with climate action plans, but there is also a number of excellent free resources being made available by the following organisations:
Lets Go Zero
The Let’s Go Zero team of Climate Action Advisors can provide free and tailored advice to help green your school buildings, transport, menus and more. https://letsgozero.org/climate-action-advisors/
Climate Ambassador Scheme
The Climate Ambassador Scheme will link nurseries, schools and colleges across England with free access to local experts who can provide tailored advice and guidance to help them develop their own climate plans. The Met Office is the host for the Southwest Regional Hub. Find our more on their website: Climate Ambassador scheme – Met Office
Eco-Schools
Millions of pupils at thousands of schools around the UK are already taking action on climate change thanks to Eco-Schools simple seven-step programme. Find out more: https://www.eco-schools.org.uk/
Count Your Carbon by Keep Britain Tidy
A simple free-to-use, online carbon footprint calculator, built specifically for schools https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/count-your-carbon
UK Schools Sustainability Network (UKSSN) Ops Group
The UKSSN Ops Group are a network of School based operations professionals and volunteers working together to improve sustainability in schools. Their members include School Business Leaders, Estates Managers, Operations Managers and Governors. They share best practice via regular webinars and online resources on their website.
Visit: https://ops.ukssn.org/
National Governors Association – Greener Governance
NGA’s Greener Governance campaign aims to ensure all schools and trusts have a strategy for their contribution to environmental sustainability and to equip governing boards to play their role in overseeing this work.
NGA has also produced an excellent guide for school leaders and governors called Environment Sustainability: A Whole School Approach.
Visit: https://www.nga.org.uk/news-views/directory/greener-governance-campaign
The Exeter Diocese
The Exeter Diocese has put this useful resource together on their website for Church of England schools: https://exeter.anglican.org/schools/climate-action-for-schools-2/
Sustainability Support for Education
A new DfE funded website offering suggested actions paired with quality-assured resources. You can filter these so you only see suggestions that are relevant to your setting – based on your teaching age, priorities, how far you’ve progressed already, estate, and more.
Visit: https://www.sustainabilitysupportforeducation.org.uk/