The new academic year is here, and with it, a renewed energy for change! What better way to kick things off than with a visit from Head of Let’s Go Zero, Alex Green, to a school that is so close to her heart: The Skinners’ School, Tunbridge Wells, which her sons attend and where her husband works.
This exciting event was part of a coordinated series of visits to shine a spotlight on the incredible climate action happening in schools across the country. The mission is clear and more urgent than ever: every school should have a robust climate action plan in place by the end of 2025. This isn’t just a goal, it’s an incredible opportunity for schools to lead the way, not only in cutting carbon but also in creating healthier, more connected communities.
Let’s Go Zero is proud to be supporting the Department for Education’s sustainability agenda. This work is part of a wider effort to help every education setting in England develop a holistic, practical climate action plan by the end of 2025. This single, integrated offer ensures all efforts are strategically aligned and mutually reinforcing, helping schools feel confident they are part of something much bigger than any one project.
The DfE’s Climate Action Framework provides a clear pathway for schools to take on sustainability, built on four core pillars:
- Adaptation and resilience
- Biodiversity
- Climate education and green careers
- Decarbonisation
Let’s Go Zero is excited to collaborate with the other incredible Sustainability Support Programme projects that complement the work we do, including:
- National Education Nature Park: Helping students and staff to map, monitor, and improve the natural environment on their school sites.
- Climate Ambassadors scheme: Providing free expertise and on-the-ground support to schools to help them create and deliver impactful climate action plans.
- Sustainability Support for Education group: Enabling education settings to start or progress on their sustainability journey by offering suggested actions paired with quality-assured resources.
During the visit, Alex was joined by Oci Stott, one of the Let’s Go Zero Climate Action Advisors, who spent time working with staff and students to help develop their climate action plan, a collaborative effort that was as inspiring as it was productive.
They tackled the challenge of retrofitting older buildings., brainstorming student-led waste reduction and their brilliant student gardening and nature projects. The passion in the room was electric, proving that young people are not just learning about climate change—they are actively leading the charge.
The visit powerfully demonstrated the connective role schools play across generations. As Alex reflected on the school’s commitment to sustainability, she saw how action today is rippling out to create a better future for generations to come. This is the heart of what the Let’s Go Zero campaign is all about.
The school’s dedication was perfectly captured by Skinners’ School Headteacher Edward Wesson, who said: “It’s not just a matter of saving money or doing something for the broader good – it’s part of a whole generation’s education. I don’t think that’s a difficult thing for teachers or people like me to engage with, because it’s one of the biggest challenges facing humanity.”
Let’s Go Zero will continue to offer detailed follow-up support from its team to ensure the school’s climate action plan is fully delivered. The new school year is the perfect time to start this journey, and we can’t wait to see what other schools accomplish.
If you’d like free support to kickstart sign your school’s climate action plan, sign up to Let’s Go Zero today!