South Downs

Support from the DfE

Your climate action plan should cover 4 main areas:

Chimneys from electricity generation.

Decarbonisation

Reduce carbon emissions by reducing energy use in the school, creating less waste across the school day, saving water, and promoting active travel.

Seaford beach defences.

Adaptation and resilience

Understand and plan for the risks to your setting from climate change and extreme weather events such as water and resource shortages, storms, flooding and heatwaves. Look at ways to share skills and resources.

The Cuckshut restoration project Lewes

Biodiversity

Create habitats and spaces for nature in the school grounds, raise awareness of the importance of nature, get students outdoors, composting.

Photo courtesy of Rampion Offshore Wind

Climate education and green careers

Incorporate climate issues into the curriculum, providing extra-curricular activities. Promote green careers, linking to local green career and training providers.

The Department for Education provides support to schools through the following resources:

Sustainability Support for Education

Provides resources, services and tools to help you identify appropriate action to develop, or build on, your climate action plan.

Find out more and sign up for a monthly email newsletter full of useful information and advice : http://sustainabilitysupportforeducation.org.uk/

National Education Nature Pack

The National Education Nature Park

Provides curriculum-linked resources and practical activities to engage children and young people in nature and the improvement of their local environment. Participation in the Nature Park is a great way to add meaningful education, skills and biodiversity action to your plan.

Find out more: https://www.educationnaturepark.org.uk/

East Sussex Climate Change Charter for education settings

Advice for schools from East Sussex County Council

Visit the East Sussex County Council website for the resources they offer to schools including East Sussex Climate Change Charter for Education Settings which provides advice and links to support a school climate action plan. They have also produced a Climate Change and Sustainability guide for governors and you can sign up to their forum for School Sustainability Leads.

https://czone.eastsussex.gov.uk/school-management/climate-change

If your school is part of an academy trust, find the support they can offer on their website or portal.