Environment, sustainability and net-zero

Eco-Schools programme and accreditation.

The international Eco-Schools programme provides a framework for learning about sustainable development issues and embedding sustainable practices into everyday school life.

To help your school achieve accreditation through the Eco-Schools programme, take a look at the topics below for guidance on where you can gain more information and support within Essex.

Climate Action

Essex County Council partnered up with the Design Council to create a new platform, where young people in Essex can come together and take action on climate. The platform will enable students across the county to learn from the approaches taken by students from other schools and coordinate joint action.

There is an online survey where the information gathered will be used to help develop this platform.

There are useful resources for schools on Climate Action:

Planet Earth Games

Planet Earth Games is an annual sustainable sports event now open to schools in Essex.

It's a chance for schools to

  • engage in climate action
  • connect to nature
  • support wellbeing
  • enjoy some friendly competition

Planet Earth Games has developed its award-winning programme after years of working in the education sector alongside Youth Sport Trust, Active Partnerships, School Games and Association of Colleges. It helps support the transition to carbon zero, pupil wellbeing and develop young leaders. Schools who take part will have access to:

  • year-round challenges
  • leaderboard participation
  • inspiration box of sustainable items
  • weekly "What's On" email
  • ability to create your own Planet Earth Games challenges

Details

To enter, create a profile on the Planet Earth Games​ website, create a team and enter the "Primary and Secondary Schools Competition".

The annual winners will be declared after Earth Day on Monday 22 April 2024.

Waste

In Essex, there are about 1.5 million residents and 635,000 households (2020).

Each household generates around 1 tonne of waste and recycling paper every year. People get rid of waste at the kerbside or recycling centres. 55% is recycling and 45% is general rubbish.

Reduce Reuse Recycle

We should all try to follow the 'waste hierarchy':

  • prevent waste
  • reduce waste
  • repair or reuse items
  • recycle items
  • energy recovery (incineration)
  • waste disposal (landfill)

The best environmental options are reducing and reusing waste. Landfill is the last resort. In reality, reducing and reusing waste is the least common option. They are difficult to track though. Recycling is great, but there's more we can do to stop creating waste in the first place.

Schools getting involved and reducing waste

There is so much schools can do to help pupils learn how to reduce, reuse and recycle. The easiest way is often to lead by example. It may even help save your school some money. There are lots of resources you can use:

Waste and recycling collection at your school

It may be worth finding out if it's possible to arrange a recycling collection for your school. A good place to start is to contact your local council in Essex for advice.

Biodiversity

The air you breathe and the food you eat all rely on biodiversity. Biodiversity is the sum of all living things and the places they live on our planet. It is all around us and it includes animals, birds, plants, and insects. It also includes places like woodlands, fields, ponds and gardens. Even a 'wasteland' can be important for wildlife.

Biodiversity is about the range of different living things and systems in an area. The more plants, insects and animals there are in an area the greater the biodiversity and the healthier the ecosystem. An ecosystem is a group of living things that live together in a stable community.

Biodiversity is important for our environment and for us to live healthy lives. There are many ways your school can help look after our biodiversity. You can:

  • create a wildlife garden
  • create a gardening club
  • take part in Forest School
  • recycle
  • walk and cycle to school
  • organise a wildlife trail that explores the school grounds or at a nearby site
  • build bird and bat boxes
  • create a poster to put up in your school to inform people about wildlife and how you can look after it

For more information and resources visit the following websites:

The National Education Nature Park​ has now been launched, and this project aims to involve all schools across the country in increasing biodiversity in the UK. Defined as a vast, virtual park, it will exist on the grounds of schools across the country. Schools will be encouraged to create environmental projects such as planting a wildlife garden or creating a pond to encourage biodiversity.

Energy

Essex County Council have a team of School Energy Surveyors who visit all maintained schools to complete energy audits.

They aim to help schools identify opportunities for carbon reduction and improved energy efficiency throughout their school. Often a fresh perspective can help site managers, cleaners, kitchen staff, teachers and business managers understand opportunities to reduce their energy usage.

The team will also share best practices between schools – enabling everyone to benefit from each other's expertise – helping all schools on their path to becoming a zero-carbon site.

The team can help schools obtain, analyse and understand their energy data; allowing them to see the potential energy and cost savings associated with suggested initiatives.

The team will also document all heating and hot water equipment, assessing suitability for grant-funded upgrades – putting opportunities “on the shelf" for future funding applications – such as the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.

Contact schoolenergyteam@essex.gov.uk to book a school energy survey with the team.​

More energy information can be found on the Energy webpage​.

Global Perspectives

Young people need to be taught the skills, values, attitudes and knowledge that will allow them to participate in a truly global society. They should understand topics such as:

  • global warming,
  • migration,
  • the arms trade
  • the Fairtrade movement

Young people need to be aware of their rights and responsibilities in this world and how their decisions can make life difficult or easy for others in different parts of the world.

The British Council Schools Online has information on bringing the world into your classroom and information on encouraging students to develop as global citizens.

Healthy Living

The current generation of children is the first predicted in history to have a lower life expectancy than their parents.

Children spend a vast amount of time at school, so need to be schooled in a healthy environment to promote their health and wellbeing. The state of our health is not only related to our diet, but a healthy child also has a higher chance of long-term physical wellbeing.

A good sense of physical wellbeing can give a child confidence, general happiness and a positive outlook on life.

Find more information and resources on the following websites:

Litter

Many Eco-Schools choose to tackle litter in their school as one of their priorities following their Environmental Review.

It is a highly visible issue and one that is easily understood by all ages. A litter-free school is very noticeable and can enhance the school's image in the local community.

Find more resources on the following websites:

School Grounds

The way school grounds are developed, used and managed can have a significant impact on pupils' attitudes and behaviour towards school, each other, the wider environment and society.

Pupils can spend as much as 25% of their time on school grounds so the experiences they have must be the best and as positive as they can be.

The following websites provide useful resources:

Travel

Essex County Council's Sustainable Travel Planning Team can help schools improve the transport options available to their pupils, parents and staff - making journeys to and from school greener, cleaner, healthier, safer and above all more enjoyable.

Schools can be provided with the free framework and tools to develop a School Travel Plan, a living document aiming to achieve all this, owned by the whole school community, and able to evolve and improve as the school changes.

The Sustainable Travel Planning Team are available to advise, support and assist, providing examples of what's worked well at other similar schools.

Schools are also rewarded for their achievements by earning national accreditations and receiving a certificate to mark this.

The following websites offer information, resources and training:

For more information, email travel.planteam@essex.gov.uk​

Water

Water is a hugely important part of life and we use it every day.

The following websites offer information and resources:

Extra Resources

Essex Learning Outside the Classroom Providers​ - groups and individuals from across Essex that offer programmes of environmental education to schools.

Members offer a wide range of services delivered at their centres and sites and through outreach and school-based work.​​