Strategy & Action Plan

National Strategies

In the UK Government’s Sustainability Strategy, Securing the Future, formal education is seen as having a crucial role to play. The current Government (DFE) recently released a statement regarding sustainable schools:

'The Government is fully committed to sustainable development and the importance of preparing young people for the future. Our approach to reform is based on the belief that schools perform better when they take responsibility for their own improvement.

We want schools to make their own judgements on how sustainable development should be reflected in their ethos, day to day operations and through education for sustainable development. Those judgements should be based on sound knowledge and local needs'.

The Sustainable Schools Framework

In 2005, DFES launched the National Framework for Sustainable Schools with eight doorways to help schools focus on sustainable development. Doorways offer opportunities for improvement across the school curriculum, campus and community.

One effective delivery mechanism adopted in Worcestershire to help deliver the Sustainable Schools Framework is the international Eco Schools award programme. There are currently over 250 Worcestershire schools and Early Years settings registered.

In Worcestershire

The County Council works in partnership through a Learning for Sustainability Forum. Representatives include those from County Council directorates (e.g. Children’s Services, Healthy Schools, Participation and Engagement Team – and School Travel Team – Environmental Services etc.), District Councils and environmental education providers and other local NGO’s. 

The Forum has created a Learning for Sustainability Strategy to consolidate and move forward Learning for Sustainability across Worcestershire.

The Learning for Sustainability work is also part of the County Council’s Sustainability Policy and Action Plan. It is informed by the Council’s Carbon Management Plan and the Worcestershire Partnership’s Climate Change Strategy and Biodiversity Action Plan.

Read More - Learning for Sustainability Strategy

• Learning for Sustainability Strategy  (400KB)
• Learning for Sustainability Strategy - Summary  (753KB)