Sustainable schools For pupils, communities and the environment

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Sustainable schools For pupils, communities and
the environment
Tide Conference, Birmingham, 9th November 2006
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Quite interesting
Educational standards in England are improving,
but We are the least energy efficient nation in
Europe EST UK carbon emissions are rising, and
schools play a part Defra We recycle just over
a fifth of our waste, one of the lowest rates in
Europe Defra We have the highest levels of
obesity in Europe DoH 40 of children dont
understand the relationship between a potato and
a chip The average UK citizen makes 625 trips by
car each year and only 15 by bike DfT
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What children told us
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Sustainable schools - quick guide

• Launched by Alan Johnson in May 2006
• Government wants all schools to become models of
  sustainable development for their communities
• Wants all of us to learn, and young people in
  particular, that sustainable living is achievable
  and can be the norm
• Consultation ran till 1st September
• DfES now calling for a year of action

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Talking schools language

• Not everyone is familiar with the language of
  sustainability, but they do understand about care

• care for oneself
• care for each other
• care for the environment

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Aims

• New skills and behaviours pupils become part of
  the solution, not part of the problem
• School efficiency and improvement seizing
  opportunities
• Sustainable communities places where people
  want to live

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Side effects
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Areas of action or doorways
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How schools thought they were doing
Getting started
Satisfactory
Doing well
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How schools and others responded
This is a fantastic way forward and seems to
reflect what young people themselves believe to
be important. The 'umbrella' nature of the
initiative is the only way to do it.
A national framework is very welcome bringing
together the teaching and management aspects of
SD and the framework itself is clear.
I believe it is essential that a whole-school
approach is taken to sustainability, not just one
or two keen members of staff championing the
cause.
Practical, workable links need to be made
between Sustainable Schools, ECM and extended
schools.
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.
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, and we are clear
that there is a role.
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Year of action not just for DfES!

• Devolved capital advance
• Ministerial response, action plan
• Self-evaluation tool (S3)
• Assembly plans
• Detective kit for pupils
• Guides for teachers, governors, bursars
• Teaching award, pupil competitions
• Conferences, eg buildings (dec), Ofsted (feb)
• Regional networking

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• ? www.teachernet.gov.uk/sustainableschools

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