Welcome to the Staffordshire Sustainable Schools website from Education Transformation. This provides national and local information relating to Sustainability and Eco Schools.

Please contact:-

Sarah Huggins sarah.huggins@staffordshire.gov.uk Tel: 01785 277974

Teresa McCullagh teresa.mccullagh@staffordshire.gov.uk Tel: 01785 278248

Address: The Kingston Centre, Fairway, Stafford ST16 3TW

Sign up for Sustainable Schools e-newsletter update here (no username or password required!)

Events

Do you want some practical help in making your school more sustainable? Do you need some inspiration and ideas of how to involve pupils and teachers in fun activities? Then why not hold a Green Day in your school? Green Day is brilliant way to inspire your pupils and colleagues to learn more about climate change and how it relates to the buildings and spaces around us. Taking part is simple - just register your interest by filling in our short form. For more information on Green Day visit www.engagingplaces.org.uk/greenday.

Climate Change in Staffordshire

As one of the most important issues facing us today, the whole field of climate change is becoming more complicated. New legislation, terminology and schemes are regularly introduced to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Some of the more relevant are listed below:

• Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC)
• Display Energy Certificates (DECs)
• Feed in Tariffs (FITs) for Photovoltaic cells (PV)
• Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)
• Eco schools
• Variable Speed Drives

More on these on these schemes on the Staffordshire Climate Change website or contact schools Climate Change Officer, Phil Kingston at: phil.kingston@staffordshire.gov.uk  (tel 01785 277480)

Every School a Sustainable School by 2020  

The Coalition Government is fully committed to sustainable development and the importance of preparing young people for the future.  "Our approach to reform is based on the belief that schools perform better when they take responsibility for their own improvement. We want schools to make their own judgements on how sustainable development should be reflected in their ethos, day to day operations and through education for sustainable development.  Those judgements should be based on sound knowledge and local needs. The good practice materials that underpin the national framework for sustainable schools are available through the department's website."

An update (December 2010) is here

The Government would like every school to be a sustainable school by 2020. A sustainable school prepares young people for a lifetime of sustainable living, through its teaching, its fabric and its day-to-day practices. It is guided by a commitment to care:

• for oneself;
• for each other (across cultures, distances and generations); and
• for the environment itself (far and near).

There are interim targets for 2010 and 2015.

Sustainable Schools Framework and self-audit tool (s3)

s3 is a tool designed to help schools evaluate their current efforts to create a sustainable school and to inform their next steps. Because it is structured using the headings in the Ofsted self-evaluation form, it provides a neat way to demonstrate how sustainability contributes to school improvement. Visit the TeacherNet Online Publications website for further information and to order or download this publication. A Revised s3 tool has been published (although it must be noted this is not a DfE document. and can be downloaded)  Revised s3 

A seven minute video is a great introduction to Sustainable Schools and features case studies from schools. Sustainability Matters

Another short video is here introducing Eco Schools

Important facts and figures
This single sheet provides some interesting background information which may help bring the Sustainable Schools Strategy alive! Did you know that schools account for 15% of public sector carbon emissions in the UK?  Important Facts and Figures

Frequently Asked Questions
Simple and useful information which may help you to answer questions which you may be asked about Sustainable Schools.   Frequently Asked Questions

8 doorways

The Sustainable Schools Framework is organised through 8 Doorways. The bulk of this website is organized according to these doorways, with local and national sources of support and guidance and can be accessed from the toolbar on the left or by following the links below.

Food and Drink
Energy and Water
Travel and Traffic
Purchasing and Waste
Buildings and Grounds
Inclusion and Participation
Local well-being
Global Dimension

During a recent course held in Staffordshire, participants pooled some of the activities taking place in their school for each of ther 8 Doorways. The combined list is available here

Curriculum, Campus and Community

The Sustainable Schools Framework takes an integrated approach. It explores sustainable development through its teaching provision and learning (curriculum); in its values and ways of working (campus); and in its engagement of local people and partners (community).

Sustainable Schools

A very comprehensive website exists which include all the key documents for download and / or ordering, case studies of Sustainable Schools in Action, sources of support and help are on the Sustainable Schools website

Climate Change and Schools
A Carbon Management Strategy for the school sector (published 2010) Download here

Governors
School governors have a significant role in driving forward and supporting schools towards becoming sustainable and meeting the DCSF targets. There is a very useful guide for them Strategic, challenging and accountable: A Governor's guide to Sustainable Schools  which can also be ordered from the TeacherNet website in hard copy free.

Bursars
A bursar's guide to sustainable school operation This guidance outlines measures to take to reduce costs (energy and waste) whilst reducing the school's environmental impact. Visit the TeacherNet Online Publications website for further information and to order or download this publication.

Climate Change ~ local and global is an interactive resource from TIDE~ which article draws upon the ideas of many Tide~ teacher groups working with Key Stages 2 and 3 in the West Midlands and offers key challenges about climate change for teachers and learners. Full resource and related links here

Climate Change in Staffordshire

OC₃: Our County, Our Climate, Our Choice website is a comprehensive resource with links to organisations and activities all over Staffordshire about Climate Change. Contact the Climate Change Team at climate.change@staffordshire.gov.uk

Climate Change Officer for Staffordshire is Sarah Fielding 01785 277252 sarah.fielding@staffordshire.gov.uk

Lead on Sustainability for Staffordshire Ian Wykes 01785 277295 ian.wykes@staffordshire.gov.uk

Science for Sustainability at Keele University Science for Sustainability is committed to promoting public awareness of climate change and environmental citizenship through a range of educational activities, learning and teaching resources and interactive demonstrations. There are workshops and activities for primary and secondary schools, resource packs and more.
Contacts: Professor Mark Ormerod 01782 733175 r.m.ormerod@keele.ac.uk
Dr Zoe Robinson 01782 734303 z.p.robinson@keele.ac.uk

Award and recognition schemes

There are many schemes to award and recognize your work in sustainability. These also have very comprehensive and useful websites.

EcoSchools is probably the most well-known and long established scheme. It is an international award programme that guides schools on their sustainable journey, providing a framework to help embed these principles into the heart of school life. Awards are available at three levels, bronze, silver and green flag.

Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy champion practical, local energy solutions that cut carbon, protect the environment, reduce poverty and improve people's lives. They have a schools section, including school awards; there are useful films from case studies and award winners and resources and lesson ideas for teachers.  Details on their website.

The Food for Life Partnership Mark  
Food for Life Partnership  Phone 0117 314 5180 email fflp@foodforlife.org.uk 
West Midlands regional contact is Anna O'Sullivan ao'sullivan@soilassociation.org

School Policies

Some schools have Sustainability policies. Here are a few for you to consider if you are asked to write a policy for your school.

Long Eaton School              Eastchurch Primary School 
Briary Primary School          London Business School
Lewis School Pengam         Solway Primary School
Argyle Primary School  

SUSchool is The Sustainable Schools Project, which offers support, information and advice to schools about sustainable development. Joining SUSchool will give you a poster and education kit, access to members area of their website with teaching resources, lessons plans etc. SUSschool website for all the details.

Last Modified: 30/03/2012 11:01:03

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