We recognise that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time, therefore we are committed to taking positive action and doing what we can to protect our world.

The Department for Education published a policy for sustainability and climate change in April 2022, one of the main strategic aims was for education establishments to be net zero carbon by 2030.

Our vision for 2030 is to be carbon net zero! 

What is Net Zero Carbon?

Net zero carbon means that no carbon emissions are being produced by the school. The school may generate some emissions however these can be offset through other initiatives.

Operations Director, Russell Dalton, explains how the trust is working to reduce our environmental footprint, particularly to achieve net zero by 2030 and how we are developing outdoor spaces to help children identify with nature and improve the biodiversity of school grounds.

Focus on carbon net zero by 2030

We have implemented the use of low or zero-carbon technologies for heat and light which had led to a reduction in electricity consumption by 20%.

Initiatives to meet carbon net zero include fitting LED lighting throughout our schools, keeping on top of routine maintenance and implementing efficiencies that reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, such as fitting new boilers and replacing roofs.

Further opportunities we are looking to action that reduce carbon emissions will be for us to increase the number of solar panels on school roofs.

We have reduced the amount of printing across our schools and recycle as much as we can including office equipment.

Developing outdoor learning

Our children benefit from inspiring outdoor learning spaces which enhance learning, improve mental health and wellbeing and build environmental awareness.

As Sir David Attenborough said “If children don’t grow up knowing about nature and appreciating it, they will not understand it. And if they don’t understand it, they won’t protect it. And if they don’t protect it, who will?”

Gardening is encouraged in our schools, some of our schools have put in raised beds for children to plant and grow their own fruit and vegetables.

Our schools have planted trees on-site and in the local community, not only for carbon setting but to help encourage wildlife into the local area.

Monitoring and achieving carbon net zero

We actively gather data to monitor our carbon footprint to be able to demonstrate year-on-year reductions in emissions.

We are making incremental changes to achieve carbon net zero by 2030. Educating our children is a major part of the strategy, ensuring they know how to protect the world and hold adults to account for their actions.

We will achieve net zero if all stakeholders are invested in sustainability and parents share in this responsibility. We support and encourage schemes to encourage families to travel sustainably to and from school - cycling, scooting and walking.

We plan to create sustainability awards for our schools to recognise their positive environmental impact.

Sustainable procurement and planning

We aim to source goods locally and every tender process now includes a check to ensure the suppliers we use are sustainable.

We have a sustainability plan which sits alongside our curriculum to support the reduction of waste and improve the environment. This will be regularly reviewed to ensure we take continuous action to protect the planet and our environment.