Sustainable Schools For pupils, communities and the environment

1
Sustainable Schools For pupils, communities and
the environment
2
Introduction

• This presentation, and the slides provided
  therein, can be used when communicating
  information about the Department for Children,
  Schools and Families (DCSF) Sustainable Schools
  strategy.
• For example
• Individual slides can be used as elements of a
  wider presentation mentioning Sustainable Schools
• The complete presentation can be used when
  presenting specifically on the Sustainable
  Schools initiative
• New slides can be added to highlight particular
  areas of focus and activity for your organisation
  

3
The context

• We are the least energy efficient nation in
  Europe EST
• We recycle just over a fifth of our waste, one
  of the lowest rates in Europe Defra and we
  throw away a third of our food WRAP
• On average UK citizens made 625 trips by car in
  2005 and 15 by bike DfT

4
What children say
Children want to walk but they can't because of
the cars.
I do not like how people think that everything
will last forever.
Lessons on the environment and sustainable
development should be compulsory.
There is always war going on.
People shouldnt leave litter on the floor. They
should not waste fuel driving around. Everyone
should recycle their stuff.
5
What is the Sustainable Schools strategy?

• The Sustainable Schools strategy aims to
  encourage schools to take on board the principles
  of sustainable development in their everyday
  work, achieving educational excellence alongside
  the goals of
• healthy living
• environmental awareness
• community participation
• global citizenship

6
What we aim to achieve

• New skills and behaviours pupils become part
  of the solution to challenges such as climate
  change, not part of the problem
• School efficiency and improvement seizing
  opportunities to improve learning environments
• Sustainable communities places where people
  want to live

7
Key facts about the strategy
Government wants schools to become models of
sustainable development for their communities
Launched by Alan Johnson in May
2006 Consultation followed by a year of
action 2006 - 2007
8
What are Sustainable Schools?
Sustainable Schools are guided by the
principles of sustainable development are
efficient schools they consume less energy,
water and materials and produce less waste aim
to improve the communities and environments in
which young people live help pupils to learn
about sustainability both in the classroom and
from first-hand experience of how their school
is run
9
What are Sustainable Schools?

• Sustainable Schools encourage care through all
  aspects of school life
• care for oneself
• care for each other
• care for the environment

10
An umbrella approach

• Sustainable Schools National Framework
• Eight doorways to sustainability

11
The eight doorways

• Energy and water

Purchasing and waste
Buildings andgrounds
Food and drink
Global dimension
Local well being
Inclusion andparticipation
Travel and traffic
12
Example doorway
For more information on the eight doorways,
visit www.teachernet.gov.uk/sustainableschools/fr
amework
13
How schools can act

• Turning down the heating by one degree can cut 8
  off a schools heating bill
• Lighting makes up 25 of a schools energy bill.
  Maximising free natural lighting can lead to
  reduced energy costs and more productive staff
  and pupils
• Energy saving light bulbs last longer and use up
  to to 75 less energy

14
How schools can act

• Motion sensors that stop taps running when not
  in use can reduce water use by up to 70
• Schools can earn money and help the planet by
  recycling aluminium - every can made from
  recylced aluminium saves enough energy to power a
  TV for three hours
• Encouraging pupils to conduct a waste audit can
  help raise awareness, set a benchmark, identify
  opportunities and build enthusiasm for reducing
  waste

15
Imagine how far you can go

• There is a school in Suffolk
  
• without a heating bill
• And one nearby where 70 of
• pupils arrive by bike
• And one in Bromley where pupils
• sell school-grown food to a
• farmers market

16
What schools we spoke to said
A national framework is very welcome, bringing
together the teaching and management aspects.
This is a fantastic way forward the 'umbrella'
nature of the initiative is the only way to do
it.
Ofsted and the wider community must acknowledge
the value that a Sustainable School has whatever
that school's academic results.
Schools look to local authorities to provide
local leadership and support.
Needs to be built into professional development
programmes as a core element of managing a
school. At an earlier stage it needs to be at the
heart of teacher training.
The more this dovetails with existing
strategies, the more likely it will be embedded
in the working of the school.
17
Resources, tools and guidance available

• Carbon Detective Kit for pupils
• Online pupil conference in partnership with WWF
• Change the world competition for pupils
• Self-evaluation tool (s3) for schools
• Sustainable design case studies
• Assembly plans
• Teaching awards
• Guidance handbooks for governors,
• bursars and teachers

www.teachernet.gov.uk/sustainableschools
18
To find out more

• For more information on the campaign and
• resources available visit
• www.teachernet.gov.uk/sustainableschools