Throughout our schools you will see children and staff taking action to protect the planet. This fresh focus on sustainability is due to our enhanced curriculum, which now considers the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are global aims agreed by world leaders that intend to protect the planet.

In line with our vision to teach children to love, learn and live as global citizens in an ever-changing world, we are committed to teaching our pupils about the challenges ahead and the importance of achieving the Sustainability Development Goals.

As a trust we are aware we have to act now to protect the planet and are taking steps to promote and support sustainability. Our Sustainability Charter sets out long and short terms goals that we are working towards to achieve sustainability goals in the following areas:

• Reduce consumption and waste
• Support mental & physical health
• Environment
• Promote sustainability
• Alternative energy

Actions of schools

Our schools have already begun to raise awareness of sustainable goals and take action. These actions include:

• Sustainability focussed lessons and assemblies
• Creating visual displays to raise awareness and educate pupils
• Reusing surplus materials
• Establishing school allotments
• Carrying out daily exercise/ daily mile
• Writing to the local MP to campaign for change

“We are using surplus 2020/21 term date calendars as bookmarks”. Michael Evans - St Clements C of E Primary School

“We are keeping off cuts of card rather than throw them away and keeping all of the election/polling station posters so that we can re-use them next year” Rosemary Thorp

Cherry Orchard COSA, Friends of North Worcester and Cranham PTA (Parent Teachers Association groups) are also supporting the Sustainable Development Goals by introducing some new ideas, one is a pre-loved Halloween costume sale to save wasting costumes and props which children have outgrown.

One of the sustainability charter goals is for staff to lead by example. “I personally have become a pescatarian and have been since the end of the last academic year.” Ben Holman, Year 2 Teacher North Worcester Primary Academy.

Mr Holman has also started an eco-warrior after school club for Year 1 pupils. During the club children learn about sustainability and how to look after the environment, starting with the local community.

So far, the children have been litter picking and creating posters to raise awareness in the community on the need to pick up litter. They also plan to make bird feeders out of recycled materials.

Children have developed an awareness of the environment and a passion for protecting it. “Litter is not good for the birds, animals or our ocean” “Litter is dirty and messy”

“Everywhere we go for walks there’s lots of litter. We are going to go litter picking as a family”. “I’m going to tell everyone in my neighbourhood to pick up litter” pledged Polly a Year 1 pupil at North Worcester Primary Academy.

At Cutnall Green CofE Primary School, Year 5 and 6 pupils have created a SDG tree made from sewn fabric, to depict the development goals. Year 5 pupil Alessandra who helped make the tree said she hoped the tree would draw attention to the goals.

Alessandra felt so passionately about all areas of sustainability that she created a comic in her own time to raise awareness. Her comic was such a big hit that she was asked to take an assembly to present her comic to children.