Through education we have the privilege to be able to engage directly with children and young people who:
Through their learned and lived experiences from early years to further and higher education, we will provide opportunities to develop a broad knowledge and understanding of the importance of nature, sustainability and the causes and impact of climate change and to translate this knowledge into positive action and solutions.
This fits directly with the Curriculum planning for Climate and Sustainability which we have implemented at St Stephens.
SSCA Sustainability Lead: Mrs. M. Furber
Schools ethos on sustainability
The Department for Education's (DfE) announcement of November 2021 outlined a Sustainable Schools Framework ("the eight doorways") which were: reducing carbon in schools, reducing energy and water use in schools, sustainable purchasing, sustainable school travel, reducing waste in schools, food and catering services, developing the global dimensions and engaging with biodiversity. Some of these targets were already a priority or ongoing for our school.
We have an active, existing steering group who are keen to expand in their size and role to include a larger representation of the school community and create more whole school opportunities for sustainable initiatives.
As a school, we are committed to reducing our waste of paper, food, plastics and energy. Incorporating intelligent heat usage and heat loss prevention, paper reduction and online communications and recycling.
With the help of the community, through the steering committee and staff we are committed to research in order to improve and evolve our response to climate change. This is an ongoing and continual process. Information on climate and sustainability, calendar events and our draft school sustainability plan are attached.
Climate Curriculum
There was an expectation that the new curriculum would be introduced in September 2023. However, as yet there is no specific climate and sustainability curriculum expectation from the DfE. At St Stephens we are aware of the importance of this area, so we have already a considerable amount of climate content in our current learning provision throughout the school. These opportunities cross the curriculum integrating science, geography, history, English, SMSC, PSHE, outdoor learning, computing, DT and art.
However, the SSCA sustainability team and staff are already assessing curriculum coverage and preparing for the impending changes to curriculum. The draft version of our climate curriculum is attached.
Updated December 2024
Camp Kernow Residential-Developing Our Future Sustainable Citizens
@ St Stephens Community Academy.
Harnessing renewable energy and employing sustainable technologies including composting toilets, reed-beds, a solar powered water pumping and filtration system and biomass-fuelled showers, this residential brought green education to life. By enabling the children to understand and experience a new way of living in balance with nature, it’s ecological systems and resources, this off-grid experience helped to consolidate and enhance prior learning from our school sustainable curriculum.
During their fantastic stay, the children took part in a packed programme of exciting, challenging and unforgettable experiences from morning through to night. A huge thank you to the staff who coordinated and accompanied the children on this memorable adventure. If you would like to see what they got up to you can see more images on our school Facebook page Facebook