Switch it off... At School

'This year, Switch it Off week for schools will begin with the secret energy check week Monday, November 21 - Friday, November 25 followed by Switch it Off week Monday, November 28 - Friday, December 2 2011'.

How can your school get involved?

It is recommended that Switch it Off week is the start of a longer focus on energy within the school, and that it now ties in directly with the national campaign organised through The Pod.

Please follow this link to see the Switch it Off guidance for Schools  (90KB).

It includes details to help you:

• Carry out a Secret energy check  (1.4MB) the week before SIO week
• Promote the campaign to pupils and staff.
• Carry out an Energy check during switch it off week  (2.8MB) and work out whether you have made a saving.
• Carry out an Energy check at home  (60KB) to spot any appliances and lights that do not need to be on.

Free resources to help encourage energy saving at your school

 Download the Switch It Off poster  (196KB) for use in your school

 Download the Switch it Off sticker for use in your school

Good Practice Guidance from the Cabon Trust

• Fact Sheet for Saving Energy in Schools  (96KB)
• A comprehensive whole school approach publication for reducing energy and carbon  (1.3MB)

You can also order free posters and stickers from the Carbon Trust (search the Publications section)

Previous Switch it Off projects

Poetry and letter writing 2009

'The Carbon Creature and other poems' was produced following a Switch it Off week poetry competition for Worcestershire and Warwickshire schools.  All poems provide an insight into children and young people's views on climate change in the run up to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009.  Many of the children also wrote letters to their local MP, to voice their concerns about climate change and the environmental problems their generation is likely  to face over their lifetime. The poetry book was supported by The Pod, EDF Energy's programme for promoting sustainability in schools. The project also contributed to schools work on the international Eco Schools Award programme and to the delivery of the  English curriculum.

The Energy Awards 2008/09

The Energy Awards were launched during Switch it Off week 2008.  Schools across Worcestershire were asked to try to make energy savings over a 6 month period.  Further information can be found via Learning for Sustainability.

Universally Challenged 2008

As an extension to Switch It Off Week, year 8 pupils from schools across the county were invited to take part in Universally Challenged.  

Each school were asked to provide a team of four to take part in the environmental quiz.  The Worcestershire heat was won by The Chantry High School.

They then went on to represent the county at the regional competition against schools from Warwickshire and Coventry, where we can proudly say they came out on top!