The Department’s aim is for all schools in England to be sustainable schools by 2020. In 2006 we consulted on a framework to help schools embed sustainability across all areas of school life including the curriculum. This academic year is a year of action to help schools become sustainable. We are working with partners to develop resources to support the teaching and learning of key issues like climate change such as a pupil ‘detective kit’ and teacher resource pack. A climate change package including a copy of Al Gore’s film ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ is also being made available to all schools.
The Department has funded the Met Office Education Service to produce a free CD-Rom to aid the teaching of climate change at GCSE and A-level. This year it will produce poster-based teaching resources on climate change for schools. The Climate Challenge Fund was set up in 2006 by DEFRA to provide financial support for communications projects seeking to achieve positive changes in public attitudes about climate change. A number of the projects will create resources for schools, including an e-learning game, education packs and DVDs.
All of the above resources will be available to schools and colleges through the Sustainable Schools area of Teachernet at:
www.teachernet.gov.uk/sustainableschools