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St StephensCommunity Academy

Climate and Sustainability

SSCA Sustainability Leads:  David Hunt and Hannah Morris-Torr

 

Schools ethos on sustainability

 

The Department for Education's (DfE) announcement of November 2021 outlined a Sustainable Schools Framework ("the eight doorways") which were:  reducing carbon in schools, reducing energy and water use in schools, sustainable purchasing, sustainable school travel, reducing waste in schools, food and catering services, developing the global dimensions and engaging with biodiversity.  Some of these targets were already a priority or ongoing for our school.

We have an active, existing steering group who are keen to expand in their size and role to include a larger representation of the school community and create more whole school opportunities for sustainable initiatives.

As a school, we are committed to reducing our waste of paper, food, plastics and energy.  Incorporating intelligent heat usage and heat loss prevention, paper reduction and online communications and recycling.

With the help of the community, through the steering committee and staff we are committed to research in order to improve and evolve our response to climate change.  This is an ongoing and continual process.  Information on climate and sustainability, calendar events and our draft school sustainability plan are attached. 

 

Climate Curriculum

There is an expectation that the new curriculum will be introduced in September 2023 and we are hopeful there will be more detail released in the Spring term 2023.  There is already a considerable amount of climate content in our current learning provision throughout the school.  These opportunities cross the curriculum integrating science, geography, history, English, SMSC, PSHE, outdoor learning, computing, DT and art.

However, the SSCA sustainability team and staff are already assessing curriculum coverage and preparing for the impending changes to curriculum.  The draft version of our climate curriculum is attached.

Sustainable Citizen Endpoint
SSCA Draft Climate Change Overview and Information 2023
DRAFT Climate Calendar 2023-2024
SSCA Draft Climate Curriculum 2023
SSCA Draft School Sustainability Plan 2023
Parent guide to wild tribe @ St Stephens Community Academy..pdf
Sustainability Pupil Conference
What a fantastic day our KS2 UNICEF Steering Group members had this week. The Trust had organised for all the schools to come together, work with different eco groups and showcase what each school in the Trust is currently doing . The children loved the active and informative workshops run by Surfers Against Sewage, SUSTRANS, the Ministry of Eco Education and Green School Project. They also enjoyed the opportunity to meet and work alongside children from the other Trust schools. In the afternoon each school gave a short presentation and we were immensely proud of our group who presented " The air we breath" -this is linked to our on going work with SUSTRANS . Its not easy riding bikes and scooter on a stage!!! We were delighted to be presented with a certificate congratulating our school on our commitment and dedication to sustainability within our school environment.
Thank you to Mrs. Saunders for coordinating the event and Mrs. Morris -Torr (one of our school Eco leads) for accompanying the children and supporting them during the day.
INTRODUCING THE OUTDOORS AT ST STEPHENS
 
The grounds at St Stephens are wonderful. We are extremely fortunate to have not only space, but variety as well : there are many different areas of the land that lend themselves brilliantly to extending children's experiences and learning, in a whole variety of ways. 
 
Main Areas / Outdoor Projects. 
 
  • Tarmac games areas.
  • Wild patch /meadow.
  • 'Trim Trail' adventure play area.
  • Apple tree area and willow structure den.
  • 'Wild Tribe Wood'.
  • Hills and slopes.
  • Grassed football pitch and athletics track.
  • Gardening area including raised beds, raspberry patch, polytunnels.
  • Large polytunnel used as an outside classroom
  • Chicken and duck runs.
  • Wooded slopes.
  • Wildlife pond.
  • KS1 play area containing a mud kitchen and building 'construction' site.
  • Interesting and ancient trees.
 
With such an amazing variety of outdoor facilities, we place huge importance on learning outside. Curriculum time is given throughout the year and across the year groups, both as separate sessions and through cross curricular learning.