EMAS in Schools Groundwork Leicester and Leicestershire

GWLL history Independent environmental charity for over 25 years Formal education work for more than 10 years 2006 became a Groundwork Trust

How did it start…. City Council Registered with EMAS in 1999 SLA agreement to work with 5 schools Joint bid ~ NRF successful Mainstreamed 2006

How did it work? Schools invited to join council’s EMAS registration Commitment from school Work begins

What happens in school? 2 pronged approach Pupil EMAS committee Pupil audit Action plan Management audit

What happens in school? Links through Sustainable Schools Agenda Parents evenings Governors meetings Letting the community know ~ Using schools as a vehicle to reduce whole community environmental impact.

What do we offer schools? Individual Officer support Recognised European Accreditation Significant financial and resource savings A toolkit of resources to implement Education for Sustainable Development across the whole curriculum ~ handbook and website Continuous Professional Development opportunities Support to source external funding Networking Audit support

What we offer schools Develop links with council Support and ideas for whole school environmental change ~ Sustainable Schools Agenda Environmental Compliance Core Extended schools provision Direct links and support for Healthy Schools award EcoHouse visits and curriculum packs Benefits directly from additional funded projects at Groundwork Leicester and Leicestershire

Ensuring Quality Currently… Auditing ~ Internal and External Interviews with Heads annual review of work Monitoring forms Legislative compliance and target monitoring

Case studies Barley Croft Primary School Externally Audited 2005 Pupil EMAS committee, chosen from Gifted and Talented Eco Wiz Kids! Pupil audit Family groups Assemblies ~ Shane Actions – linked into Extended Services

Comments from teachers The work and input has been refreshing and challenging and brought something meaningful and purposeful for our pupils. Contributing to at least the Literacy, Geography, Science, Design, Technology and Art Curriculums. Maggie Welton, Head Shenton School. The EMAS project has helped to integrate an environmental ethos into the way of thinking of the school, including the governors, parents and pupils. Gerry Hirst Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School. The continuing education of children on environmental issues is clearly beneficial and extends well beyond the EMAS clubs and school councils. This will bring life long learning benefits and longer term enhancements in environmental performance and is at the core of sustainable development. Paul Smith ~ Environmental Management System Assessment Manager, LRQA

The values of EMAS as an educational tool Reducing ecological footprint of schools Direct links to national curriculum Pupils develop EMS skills to link directly into lifelong learning skills Environmental and cost savings Provide social and behavioral benefits Influencing whole communities Enables families and schools to unite around the environment as a tool for learning

What are Sustainable Schools? Sustainable Schools encourage care through all aspects of school life: care for oneself care for each other care for the environment

Where we are now Mainstreamed project with 68 schools ~ 54 Primary 14 Secondary and Special Schools 5 full time officers Significant proportion of the City Council’s EMAS registration Monitoring successes of the project through targets

Network Approach Partnership approach Tie into Trading Services review / Extended Services work Delivery of National Agendas Other funded Projects – ACE cycling

Future Developments Over 70% of schools working on ESD programme Groundwork UK – One World Schools Aim for more progressive, measurable Climate Change targets, linked into National Government Education team growing to 15 staff with a turnover of over £500,000 by members of staff non grant dependent Share best practice with the Region and Nationally

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