Explore the Let’s Go Zero map to see where else teachers, students and school communities are taking action to become zero carbon by 2030.
Let’s Go Zero school action:
REAch2 Academy Trust, England
REAch2 is the largest primary academy trust in the country. They have just started their journey on climate action and sustainability. This year they have created a six-point strategy which encompasses sustainability throughout the trust. This includes looking into:
- Their policies, processes and procurement, adding environmental impact into everything they do and buy, and embedding sustainability into the culture of all their schools.
- Reducing emissions from their school estate.
- Improving their school grounds to support the curriculum as well as to improve biodiversity.
They also hope to include the wider community, parents and carers, local businesses, and councils to support wider climate action and sustainability
The teachers and students leading the action:
“I took up this post [less than a year ago] and have been overwhelmed by the support that I’ve received from people outside the trust from different organisations and businesses who have a great deal of expertise. They are not out to make money – just want to do the right thing. The level of expertise people have, has been really encouraging. I feel really optimistic about the journey.”
Tim Culpin, REAch2 Sustainability Lead
What are they doing in their school?
The first part of the strategy is to train people so that they have a good understanding of what they’re trying to do and how they’re trying to do it. The trust has 15 members of staff on the CAPE and Teacher Development Trust, Climate Wise training programme for experts and school leaders. This will finish in January 2024.
To support biodiversity and improve their schools’ grounds, the trust hope to map their school grounds and decide what changes need to be made with support from experts. They aim to increase biodiversity and reduce carbon, or increase carbon capture where possible
The trust is actively trying to reduce emissions from their school estate and have a carbon reduction plan for each of their schools.
For longer lasting impact, REAch2 have worked to improve their curriculum so that by the time they leave school, every pupil has a really good understanding of what climate change is, and what decisions they can make for collective action (such as walking to school), including strategies to overcome climate anxiety.
The trust is looking at procurement in their new strategy. They are looking into their policies, processes, and procurement. So, to ensure that every time they procure anything, they are thinking about the environment, not only considering the financial cost but the environmental cost as well.
Tim Culpin’s aim is to bring every school in the trust along on this journey in a way that works for everyone – no matter if the school is in an urban or rural setting. This approach needs to become an integral part of each school’s culture, not just as an Eco Club add-on for a select few, he insists. Every child must leave school with a clear awareness of the steps they can take to contribute positively to both people and the planet.
Cymraeg 
English (UK)