Last week saw the launch of the Our Schools, Our World programme in Leicester. Our Schools, Our World helps schools to develop a transformative whole authority approach to climate change in schools. It encourages schools to set up a sustainability strategy group, green their curriculum and make climate education a key focus for all pupils.
It was a fantastic 3 days, with school staff from the following schools attending the training at Brent Community Enterprise Hub:
Montrose Primary School, Inglehurst Junior School, LC Primary PRU, Scraptoft Valley Primary School, Spinney Hill Primary School, Stokes Wood Primary School, Queensmead Primary Academy, Abbey Mead, Fosse Mead, Kestrel Mead, Knighton Mead, North Mead, Rowlatts Mead, Thurnby Mead, Willowbrook Mead, Shaftsbury Primary School
Each day was filled with energy and ideas, with schools sharing knowledge on existing climate projects and discussing the importance of teaching pupils about climate change.
The training was led by representatives from the Brighton and Hove programme, Our City, Our World, and the Sustainable Schools team from Leicester City Council.
School business managers and site managers on day 3 of the training:
On Day 1, the training bought together headteachers, senior programme leads and lead governors from each school. This training day aimed to start the formation of the sustainability strategy group in each school and explored the importance of strong leadership when adopting a whole school approach to climate change.
Activity looking at climate change basics, linking causes and consequences:
Day 2 focused on ‘greening’ the curriculum, with senior programme leads exploring how to develop their existing curriculums and interweave climate change into each year group’s learning. In the afternoon, the group had a session with ThoughtBox on how to talk to young people about climate change. They then headed outside for activities on outdoor learning, and got to see Queensmead Primary Academies brilliant grounds which include a pond, and a Tiny Forest.
Senior Programme Leads at Queensmead Primary Academy:
Day 3 bought together school business managers and site managers from each school to focus on climate action planning and decarbonisation. We were joined by Jelly Moring, Climate Action Advisor from Let’s Go Zero, who shared many practical tips on reducing emissions. Schools also plotted actions on an impact graph, identifying which small or bigger steps they could take to get started on their carbon footprint. We were joined virtually by Adam Flint from Eco-Schools to share information on the Count Your Carbon tool.
School business and site managers identifying where actions fall on a graph plotting ease against impact:
It was hugely inspiring to see so many schools commit to integrating climate education into the way their school functions, with huge ambitions to create long-term lasting change for their pupils and their local community.
As the programme moves forward over the next two years, Leicester City Council will be supporting each school to implement the Our Schools Our World framework and create links with local businesses and communities.
For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Marc Tench – Sustainable Schools Manager at Leicester City Council.