The innovative app-based platform empowers and supports schools’ sustainability efforts as they put into action their 2025 Climate Action Plan. However, having reached the 2025 deadline many schools are still finalising this as the new year begins.

NZB and Points4Planet are using their partnership to drive change in the education sector by providing the tools for schools to overcome sustainability challenges and remain on the pathway to net zero.

Already helping to improve the sustainability of over 20 schools across the UK, Points4Planet tracks activity using a school’s unique data, enabling staff and students to understand their carbon footprint and implement real change.

In addition to laying the foundation for a net zero strategy, as schools implement sustainable practices such as installing EV charging points, to encouraging pupils to walk to school where possible, students and staff can earn Planet Influencer Points. These in turn can influence real-world projects, funded by partnered organisations, including Greggs and Travis Perkins.

As the first construction partner with this ambitious scheme, NZB is supporting the initiative by providing schools with insight into how to decarbonise their estates. Offering expert advice and support via the app, this partnership will enable schools to make long-term positive changes that will benefit students, staff and wider communities as well as the environment.

Hannah Gains, National Education Manager at Net Zero Buildings, said: “With climate action firmly on the agenda and net zero targets moving ever closer, many schools face a challenging year as they seek to make sustainability a core focus.

“Through our partnership with Points4Planet, alongside our expertise in creating net zero in operation buildings, we want to inspire positive change in the education sector, by showing schools and pupils just how much impact they can make for the environment.”

The annual event celebrates the reading of information to expand knowledge, explore individual interests, and can have a notable impact on our society, as young people discover global issues and historical events which have shaped the world that we live in today.

This year’s edition is titled ‘Why Don’t You’ and aims to encourage discussion around hobbies and leisure activities.

The reading of non-fiction in schools could also directly impact how global issues such as climate change are perceived in the long-term, after the National Literacy Trust found that those who read non-fiction are more likely to take care of the environment.

Constance Mantle, CEO of SaveMyExams, a leading online education platform, explains how the pros of reading this genre could correlate to tackling global challenges in the future: “Non-fiction reading is a vital part of school education, with it able to help enhance knowledge of the world, develop critical thinking and support personal development; skills which are ultimately imperative in adulthood and inspiring future leaders within industry.

“Reading of non-fiction has already been shown to positively impact perceptions of the environment. Its unique ability to enhance a readers’ knowledge of the world means that the genre is likely to continually help educate students on a variety of global issues, such as history, politics, and science.

“As well as making students more socially aware, non-fiction reading exposes young people to differing perspectives to help develop critical thinking skills. The genre forces questions, analysis and scepticism, three skills which are vital when addressing future global issues such as climate change.

“Non-fiction reading can promote curiosity and invoke inspiration, as students discover topics and subjects that can support future careers and interests. The genre additionally helps embrace a willingness to be open to change and to better understand failure, characteristics that help create individuals that can positively impact society.”

According to UNICEF, nine out of 10 children are worried about climate change, with 89% of children saying they don’t feel enough is being done to tackle the climate crisis, and 81% feeling that they are not being listened to.

Canteen to Classroom seeks to empower children to make climate-friendly dietary choices at both school and home through the provision of high-quality, evidence-based lessons developed specifically for primary schools.

“Children today care deeply about the climate crisis and, in my experience, they want to know how they can make a difference. The food we eat is a super place to start. Educating children on the impact of their food choices is essential in nurturing future generations who are both health and environmentally conscious,” said Martin Skingley, Education Manager at ProVeg UK, and previously a teacher of 16 years.

“Through our School Plates programme, we realised we were making huge positive changes in the canteen, but hadn’t prepared any resources to directly support children in understanding the importance of these changes. Education was the missing piece.

“Plant-based foods have numerous benefits and our programme for children in Foundation Stage right up to Key Stage 2 celebrates these in an engaging and informative way, making it easier for them to make choices and take actions that are good for themselves and good for the planet,” Skingley added.

Evidence-based lessons

The programme is made up of 24 specially-made, evidence-based lesson plans with engaging lesson presentations, and additional resources aimed at saving teachers and education providers precious time and effort.

The lessons adhere to the national curriculum in England and provide a well-rounded view of healthy and sustainable eating. Lessons do not need to be taught sequentially and can be delivered as stand-alone sessions, as a half-term block, or as a way of supporting and enhancing themed weeks or special learning days.

“We know that school timetables are already tight, so we have created ‘ready-to-go’ lessons that can fit in and around what schools already do. And, all of this we provide for free,” Skingley said.

The new initiative complements ProVeg’s hugely successful School Plates programme that has been running since 2018, and currently works with major catering partners across the UK. The non-profit has helped turn tens of millions of school dinners meat-free or plant-based while developing tasty, nutritious, and sustainable menus.

The Department for Education has set a target for all schools in England to have a climate action plan in place by 2025. The programme can work in tandem and help educational settings achieve sustainability goals so that planning becomes action. Involving children, young people and learners is imperative to inspire their enthusiasm to help drive positive change and enable them to share their knowledge in their local communities.

All Canteen to Classroom lesson plans are available to download for free here.

Teaching staff can make a pledge on the website on behalf of their school, and they will receive access to a set of free lesson plans and teaching resources for EYFS to KS2. These curriculum-led activities are designed to help teachers talk to and encourage their students to find out more about cycling and the benefits it brings.

Pledging is for everyone, and there are a range of ways to take part. Adults and children can pledge to cycle to school every day for the week, discover somewhere new on their cycle, or swap just one car journey for a trip by cycle. Everyone who makes an individual pledge will be entered into a prize draw to win a brand new cycle from Squish.

Emily Cherry, Chief Executive at The Bikeability Trust, said: “Cycling is a fantastic way for children, parents, and teachers to get to school. Choosing cycling is the cleaner, greener and healthier choice, plus it’s a great way to set children up for a day of engaged learning, as well as incorporating some fun activity into their day.

“We have already had hundreds of schools signing up to make a pledge to share Cycle to School Week with their students, and we can’t wait to see children across the country bring the fun to the school run with pedal power!”

Cycle to School Week runs from Monday 23 – Friday 27 September and is supported by NatWest Rooster Money.

To make your pledge and receive your free set of teaching resources, visit the website: Cycle to School Week – Bikeability

ViewSonic aims to achieve a 42% reduction in carbon footprint by 2030 and to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Other key initiatives within the company’s ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy include aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 4, 12, and 15. These goals focus on providing equitable quality education for all, ensuring responsible product life cycles, and promoting the restorative management of ecosystems.

“We believe that technological advancement and environmental stewardship can and must go hand in hand.” said Clifford Chen, General Manager of the Presentation Group at ViewSonic. ” As a leader in the Interactive Display market, this represents a pivotal step towards a more sustainable and responsible future in the technology sector. It’s a testament to our unwavering dedication to environmental and social responsibility.”

In the pursuit of reducing environmental impact, ViewSonic’s series of ViewBoard interactive displays are designed with recycled materials and incorporate energy-saving features. The Carbon Footprint of ViewBoards has fallen by up to 24.43% compared to the previous generation. These interactive displays are registered with EPEAT® and certified by ENERGY STAR® 8.0, signifying that the devices meet high environmental performance criteria for product longevity, circular design, and energy efficiency. Each ViewBoard also comes with a comprehensive report detailing its carbon emissions and overall environmental footprint.

Energy Conservation
Engineered to minimize power consumption without compromising performance, our interactive displays feature various modes designed to reduce carbon footprint. In Energy-Saving Mode, the device automatically powers down when no signal is received for a specific amount of time. After an hour of inactivity, it enters Stand-By Mode through an Eco-mode setting. For scheduled poweron-and-offs, users can customize their preferred times using Manager Advanced. To access more information about the overall power consumption of our devices and for more precise savings, users can utilize ViewSonic’s Energy Savings Calculator.

Product Longevity
Prioritizing longevity and serviceability, ViewBoards are designed with a modular and upgradable framework, enabling easy component replacement, and accommodating technological advancements without the need to discard the entire unit. For instance, users can enhance their interactive displays by incorporating a slot-in PC to extend the product lifecycle or accessorize with sensors to reduce overall power consumption.

This forward-thinking approach not only extends the product lifecycle but also fosters a circular economy by encouraging the reuse and repurposing of materials. Through the Recycle and Disposal Program, which allows users to return obsolete devices directly to ViewSonic, we responsibly collect, recycle, and dispose of these devices, minimizing environmental harm and maximizing the reusability of materials for newer models.

Social Impact
ViewSonic will participate in various technology tradeshows, including BETT 2024 in London, United Kingdom, from January 24th to 26th, 2024, and ISE 2024 in Barcelona, Spain, from January 30th to February 2nd. The aim is to raise awareness about sustainable technology in educational institutions and corporate environments. Through this participation, the company hopes to actively engage with these sectors to encourage the adoption of devices that are environmentally conscious, promoting a positive impact on the planet.

For more information about ViewSonic’s ethos on sustainability, please visit ViewSonic ESG website.

www.viewsonic.com

Following their incredible efforts in collecting more than 12,000 pieces of litter from beaches and parks during the summer, pupils from Ysgol Eirias in Colwyn Bay seeded more than 6,000 bulbs and 20 trees on Craig Road, Old Colwyn.

In partnership with Conwy’s Community Development Officer, volunteers from Man Coed VM Ltd, Creating Enterprise, Cartefi Conwy and Ysgol Swn-y-Don, groups from Year 7 upwards completed the task in just a matter of hours and even collected several bags of rubbish on the walk back to school!

Wellbeing Officer Abbie Johnson (pictured) has been leading on a series of programmes to support learners in and out of the classroom, focused on health, inclusivity, and the environment.

“My role is to work with the children so they can reach their potential and become the best they can be, both academically and socially,” said Abbie.

“We are outdoors helping to clean up and conserve the local area, but also holding interventions in numeracy and literacy to give extra support in those areas, and promoting exercise, healthy living, and mindfulness.

“The students have really taken ownership of these schemes, they are from different backgrounds, and different ages and genders, so everyone gets a voice.”

A new Uniform Recycling System will be introduced in the coming year, ensuring pupils can collect jumpers, skirts, trousers, and other items for free, and Abbie has started a new Thursday cookery class, fully funded so learners go home with a hot meal.

For further information on Ysgol Eirias visit: www.eirias.co.uk

Climate Change: It’s In Our Hands is a classroom-based game, aimed at children aged from ten years old and designed to make the often-complex subject of climate change accessible and engaging in a meaningful way.

It has already been given the seal of approval by pupils at New York Primary School, in North Tyneside, who worked with environmental scientists, graphic designers and outreach practitioners to design the game.

Climate Change: It’s In Our Hands is now available for other schools to download and use for free, with New York Primary School STEM Leader, Julia Bourne, saying the children involved were proud and excited to know the game they helped create would be played by children all over the country.

She added: “By being involved in the development of the board game, the children have had the opportunity to have some fantastic discussions about climate change and how they are able to work together to make a positive impact on their world.

“The game can support these vital conversations and allow children to discuss this hugely important topic in a way that is interesting to them.

“It also shows them that trying to make changes alone isn’t effective but, by working together, you can make a difference. This is such a key message for our young people to hear.”

Speaking about the collaboration with Northumbria University, Julia added: “These types of projects are so important as they bring new and innovative ideas into the primary classroom. The expertise and funding from the university means that children can be involved in something that will have impact far beyond their own school.”

Climate Change: It’s in Our Hands consists of four rounds, during which groups of children play collaboratively to take actions that will have an impact on our climate. As they play, their choices affect the outcome of the game, and they need to work together to put into action strategies that will limit global temperature rises.

The idea for the game came from environmental scientists and the NUSTEM outreach group at Northumbria University, with funding from the Natural Environment Research Council enabling the ideas to come to life. The NUSTEM group work with schools across the region to provide activities and opportunities for children to engage with the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Environmental scientist Dr Emma Hocking, of Northumbria’s Department of Georgraphy and Environmental Sciences; and Joe Shimwell and Annie Padwick from NUSTEM have all been involved in the Climate Change: It’s in Our Hands project and hope the final game will be used by schools across the UK, and even further afield, to teach children about climate change.

Speaking about the project, Emma said: “Climate change can often seem like a bit of a vague and scary topic for children, so we wanted to create something which would make it more relevant to young people and enable them to think positively about actions they can take to make a difference.

“Thanks to the feedback from the children we were able to design and then refine the game, ensuring it really appeals to the target age group.

“The game is available online and can be downloaded and printed by schools for free, and we really hope it will be a useful resource for schools when teaching children about environmental issues.”

The game was designed with the help of non-profit design company Roots and Wings – who specialise in projects with social or environmental objectives.
Director of Roots and Wings Alan Ramsay added: “Overhearing the discussion the children were having was fascinating and ultimately they came to the conclusion that the only way to improve the current situation is by everybody working together.”

Climate Change: It’s in Our Hands can be downloaded for free at nustem.uk/in-our-hands/

Focus-Trust’s Pupil Parliament consists of pupils who have been elected by their peers to represent their school at the trust level. The ‘7 Musts of Focus-Trust’ began as a recent Pupil Parliament project, inspired by books such as ‘100 things to do before you grow up’.

Surveys were sent out across the schools for both children and staff, all voting for their top ten out of a long list of ideas. Further discussions were held in the following meetings, and the Pupil Parliamentarians voted for their top seven ‘musts’.

The pupil-led project resulted in seven essential experiences which will become available to all children at Focus-Trust schools. A pupil representative presented the ‘7 Musts’ to all of the Focus-Trust headteachers, and the Pupil Parliament designed their very own logo.

The 7 Musts of Focus-Trust means every child in a Focus-Trust school will have the opportunity to:

1. Complete a first aid course
2. Attend Young Voices
3. Visit London
4. Undertake an environmental project
5. Visit the theatre
6. Plan a charity event
7. Complete Bike-ability

The aim of the project is to give pupils an even wider set of standard experiences to develop their social and cultural knowledge and experiences. By making these activities a ‘must’, they become a core entitlement for all, rather than an additional extra.

Each school is now planning how they will organise each of these activities from September 2023, with some having already undertaken their residential visit to London.

Andrew Marlow, Curriculum and Pedagogy Director at Focus-Trust, said: “At Focus-Trust, pupil voice is a crucial element of our work and supports our continual improvement.

“Across all our schools we actively seek out opportunities for children to share their thoughts, opinions, and ideas about their learning and experiences.

“It is important to us because it empowers our children, improves learning, fosters a culture of community, and develops important life skills”.

Focus-Trust is a charitable primary schools trust which is based in the North West of England and West Yorkshire with a vision of providing ‘great schools at the heart of our communities’ where children thrive, achieve and succeed.

Esri UK created mobile apps that enabled children to map their emotions along with what they saw, heard and smelt across the gardens and start learning some of the skills needed to study biodiversity. Findings were explored on an interactive dashboard, helping them to understand how different environments cause different reactions.

The National Education Nature Park is a pioneering Department for Education initiative launching later this year, created to teach children about climate change and improve biodiversity across the country. Run by a partnership led by the Natural History Museum (NHM), working with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and geospatial partner Esri UK, the park will enable young people to lead the way in mapping, monitoring and enhancing biodiversity at their places of education, equipping them new skills and improving wellbeing.

The activity day was visited by representatives from the DfE and Chair of Trustees of the NHM, Sir Patrick Vallance and Clare Matterson CBE, Director General of the RHS. Baroness Barran MBE, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the DfE, attended as the DfE announced £15m in funding for education settings in the most deprived and nature depleted areas to engage with the programme. Children who took part were from schools in pilot regions of the Northwest and West Midlands, currently helping to shape the National Education Nature Park scheme.

Esri UK created mapping apps for the event, enabling young people to record their experiences by plotting what they saw, heard and smelt, along with the emotions they felt at different locations. Another app introduced them to species identification and the skills needed for tending to different plants and wildlife. The software also allowed them to explore the results on an interactive dashboard to understand how different environments cause different reactions and encourage problem solving. Designed to introduce young children to the concepts of mapping and citizen science, the test apps will help develop final versions for the Nature Park.

“Digital mapping enabled the children to record and share information and start learning some of the skills needed to study biodiversity at their own learning sites,” explained Katie Hall, Schools Manager at Esri UK. “This type of activity helps young people begin to understand our emotional connection with the natural world and how improvements to it have a positive impact on wellbeing. Biodiversity mapping will help children develop a wide range of skills, including numeracy, spatial awareness, data visualisation and analysis, which encourages analytical thinking. All of these skills help prepare them for future careers and to better protect the world around us.”

Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be working with the Department for Education and our partners to make the National Education Nature Park and Climate Action Awards start to become a reality. In the face of the planetary emergency and Museum research showing that the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, having our scientists sharing their world-leading biodiversity expertise with the scientists of tomorrow gives me so much hope, both for the future of biodiversity in this country and for the futures of the young people taking part.”

Clare Matterson CBE, Director General of the Royal Horticultural Society, said: “From creating pollinator-friendly habitats, digging ponds, identifying wildlife or planning planting schemes, nurseries, schools and colleges will be able to play a driving role in mapping, monitoring and enhancing biodiversity on their doorstep. Children and young people will have a chance to create and grow a garden that works for wildlife, to learn new skills and understand impacts of climate change – all of which offers a gateway to a lifelong interest in nature, biodiversity and sustainability.”

All education settings in England will be able to sign up to become part of the National Education Nature Park and work towards the Climate Action Awards via a new online platform, set to launch in the Autumn term. They will also be able to access the free resources and track biodiversity gains in their areas.

All those interested in taking part can receive the latest updates by signing up to the NHM mailing list here: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/education-nature-park

The Hub features a host of engaging resources varying from videos to lesson guides, assembly plans and handbooks, organised under six categories: ‘the journey of waste’, ‘food’, ‘clothing’, ‘plastic’, ‘composting’, and ‘take action for the environment’.

The Hub was launched in response to NLWA’s research project in 2022 with Keep Britain Tidy which set out to identify priority areas of interest and gaps relating to waste prevention education in north London. Users are invited to share their feedback about the Hub online, to help NLWA keep pace with schools’ needs and resource gaps.

To celebrate the launch of the Education Hub, NLWA is inviting schools to submit posters around the theme ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’. The top 30 entries will be professionally printed to form part of the construction fencing leading up to the brand new Reuse and Recycling Centre at the redeveloped Eco Park in Edmonton. Schools will also be entered into a prize draw with a chance to win either a £200 voucher or an interactive assembly and Q&A on what happens to north London’s rubbish and recycling once it’s been collected. Details on how to take part in the competition can be found on NLWA’s Schools Competition page.

Councillor Clyde Loakes, NLWA Chair, said: “There’s great opportunity to teach children about their community and how the waste we produce impacts climate change – the objective of the Education Hub is to support local teachers and make waste reduction behaviours part of every north London school’s bread and butter, from a young age.

“The Hub is a fantastic directory that brings together some of the best educational resources out there and promotes interactivity. If every north London school integrated consumption and waste prevention into their curriculum, we’d be looking at a generation who see this as the norm and is empowered by their potential to mitigate climate impacts.”

Resources on the Hub have links to the national curriculum, including English, Science, Geography, Citizenship, and Art and Design, making it easy for teachers and home school tutors to integrate environmental and waste prevention education into the syllabus.

For further information about the Hub, please go to the North London Waste Education Hub.

Please note: the competition is only open to primary schools in the seven member boroughs of the North London Waste Authority: Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, and Waltham Forest.