Schools of the Future: What can we do

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Schools of the Future What can we do?
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Do you believe this? How can you check? Do you
care? WATER 1.2 billion people lack access
to clean water Most of the world will not have
enough water within 30 yearsPOVERTY The
average European cow receives 1.50 per day in
subsidies while 2.8 billion people in developing
countries live on less than 1.50 per
dayCLIMATE CHANGE The average persons carbon
dioxide emissions are 10 times higher in
Britain than in IndiaBIODIVERSITY Available
productive land for each person on earth
1.9 hectares. Area consumed by average US
citizen 9.6 hectares Area consumed by
average Indian citizen 1.4 hectaresEDUCATION
Average child in Mali attends school for 3
years Average western child attends
school for 15 years
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Educational context

• The opening statement of aims requires that
• The school curriculum should develop
  (childrens) awareness, understanding and
  respect for the environments in which they live,
  and secure their commitment to sustainable
  development at a personal, local, national and
  global level.
• DfEE 1999 p.11

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Current thinking

• Research has shown that children learn best when
  they
• are motivated
• are given real responsibilities
• are taught to think critically and make
  connections
• are engaged in real contexts and use first hand
  experience

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Action Plan
Environmental Review
Monitor and evaluate
Committee
Curriculum
Eco-code
Inform involve
Eco-schools model
A cycle of participation
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School Council who decides?
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Thinking up an Eco - Code

• We love our planet
• We protect living things
• We re-cycle what we can
• We are water watchers
• We put litter in the bin
• We respect others

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Giving children a voiceFoundation stage review
their playground
How can it be mended?
I dont like that broken fence!
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Giving children a voiceInvestigate energy usage
Why do we need to use less energy?
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What could you do on an Action Day?
Paint the fence?
Tidy the recycling area?
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These children worked to choose, plan and
prioritise activitiesConsider Health and
safety Weather
Involve everyone , e.g. children, staff, parents,
school governors, friends, local businesses and
the media.
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What do children want to buy for their school? Do
they have a real say in improving their
environment?
This School Council voted to spend money on
plants. Their treasurer was still smiling after
paying for this lot. School Councils should have
their own budget!
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How can curriculum work engage meaningfully with
local issues?
Where do owls live? What do they eat? Why are
their habitats being destroyed? How can we design
and build an owl box? Where shall we site it?
This Owl project kept children busy in
Literacy, Geography and DT for a term.
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Active citizens monitor their actions
Have an Energy Team to read the gas, electricity
and water meters weekly and report back to
pupils. Use real calculations in maths.
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Since having pv panels installed this school
reduced yearly energy consumption of
traditional electricity by 10 despite having
each classroom fitted with interactive
whiteboards. Only 5 of this was through solar
energy - 5 was through behavioural changes.
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• Why engage with active citizenship?
• Raises pupils self esteem
• Gives children a real voice
• Saves resources and money
• Motivates pupils and staff
• Promotes awareness, knowledge and practice of
  sustainable issues
• Provides a meaningful and enjoyable context for
  learning throughout the curriculum
• Builds links with the community and promotes
  teamwork
• Enhances the environment
• Raises school profile
• Attracts funding

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Real contexts, real responsibilities, real
education.