Leading sustainable schools

Katy EmmersonResearch and Development Officer

NCSL

15 October 2007

Sustainability

“Sustainable development will enable all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life, without compromising the quality of life of future generations”

Securing the Future, the UK Government’s 2005 sustainable development strategy

Leading sustainable schools research project

- Purpose of the research:

- To inform the College, and also policy makers, the wider education community and school leaders, about the current state of sustainable development in schools and the skills and qualities required by school leaders to move this important agenda forward

- Literature review- Case-studies- Focus groups- Survey

Key findings

- Every Child Matters (ECM)

- Vision

- Communication

- Focus on learning

- Getting everyone on board

Key findings

- Distributed leadership

- Outward orientation: community links, national and international initiatives e.g. Bromley Garden project, WWF, eco-schools, links with Russia, Bangladesh, Ghana, Brazil, Kenya, South Africa

- Student voice, student pride – sustainability group, school traffic plan

- CPD – e.g. Masters, organic gardening course

- Resources

Why go green?

Focus groups told us:

- Life experiences- Education- Modelling- Enthusiasm- Personal passion

- 98% of respondents to survey rated sustainable development in their personal lives as being important or very important

- Coherence building

How

- Small steps – many different starting points

- Formalisation – use school structures to give sustainability status

- Engaging people – communicate effectively, get others on board

- External relationships – links with community

- Strategic – shared vision

Tool kit

- Audience: aimed at those starting to develop sustainability

- CPD activity

- DCSFs doorways

- Map, booklets, facilitated activities

Grant scheme

- Awarding grants of £5k to up to 36 schools

- Case-study and promoting sustainability to other schools

Details of all our work in this area can be found at www.ncsl.org.uk/sustainableschools

Reflection

- What does sustainability mean to you?

- How is it being addressed in your school?

- How did you get started/ or what would your first step be?

- How can we make this tool as useful as possible?

- Is there anything missing?

- Does this sound right?

- Would you use it with your leadership team?