Workshop & Seminars

Access to sustainable schools via biodiversity

This workshop run by RSPB will provide practical ideas and activities to involve your students on the move towards Sustainable Schools. It will look at where biodiversity is included in the National Framework for Sustainable Schools, making links through curriculum, campus and community. It will explore practical ideas for carrying out biodiversity audits, encouraging and attracting wildlife to your school grounds and provide information about related awards that are available for schools.

Carbon overload! Carbon detectives' kit for schools

Climate change is probably the biggest single environmental issue facing the planet. Last year, the Field Studies Council worked with the Department for Children, Schools and Families to develop a web based carbon calculator based on the Sustainable Schools doorways, which enables schools to calculate their carbon footprint. The web site also allows schools to set targets and measure performance over time. So far over 1,000 schools have registered and this workshop will introduce the site and investigate how carbon footprints can be used as a way of creating more Sustainable Schools.

Exploring local wellbeing

Groundwork will be facilitating a workshop which will focus on local wellbeing. Through the exploration of case studies and discussion, the workshop will share ideas on what is happening or could happen in your school, how local wellbeing links to other issues in the National Framework for Sustainable Schools such as food, travel, etc. Finally, the workshop will address “what’s next?”, looking at practical ways to take ideas forward, as well as signposting helpful resources and support for your school.

Exploring your school's food footprint (AM only)

St Dominic’s Primary School, Airdrie have been involved in Global Footprinting specifically looking at their school’s food footprint. This participative workshop will introduce the concept of a footprint, how pupils measured their food footprint, their plans to reduce their footprint and the range of cross-curricular activities the children were involved in – from working online with a footprint calculator, campaigning to inform and change practice in their own school and school community, to growing their own vegetables in the school vegetable garden.

From my space to our space: It takes a whole village

Every action of every individual counts, but it’s the ‘multipliers’ that make the impact! This workshop, run by the Campaign for Learning provides a holistic approach to developing Sustainable Schools and offers creative and practical ideas to mobilise kids, staff, families and whole communities to reduce, reuse and recycle. There will be an opportunity to explore the ‘how to’ of getting every family involved, as well as examples of activities, including planning an Eco Story Safari, a Changing Spaces photographic project, making beautiful mosaics from recycled materials and running a ‘Don’t Feed Your Dustbin’ Family Feast day.

Giving pupils a voice

This workshop, run by practising teachers Nina Bernstein and Frances Thomson, will focus on how to unlock pupil voices in your school. It will explore ideas of how to make it happen, how to include all children, and the skills that children need to develop in order to participate. This highly participatory workshop will generate practical ideas that can be used in your school.

Going green with Espresso

Find out more about the 2008 BETT inclusion award winning ‘Sustainability Module’ from Espresso which provides a wealth of child-centred classroom resources including: News Bites – a weekly video news broadcast; library – an archive of photos, newspaper and video reports; learning paths – step-by-step activities; and sustainability surveys.

The Sustainability module aims to raise pupils' awareness of the significance of sustainability for themselves and others around the world. It encourages pupils to research and present their ideas on the eight ‘doorways’ to Sustainable Schools and take action in their own community.

So if you are on your journey to becoming a greener school or just starting out, come and find out how Espresso can assist you along your way.

How big is your school's global footprint (PM only)

How can a school examine, measure and reduce its impact on the world locally and globally? This practical workshop, run by WWF Scotland, is based on WWF’s Schools' Global Footprint web based resource ( http://www.LTScotland.org.uk/schoolsglobalfootprint). The workshop will give participants an opportunity to find out more about how to introduce global footprinting to a class; measure and monitor their school’s waste, food, energy, travel, buildings and water footprints; and reduce their school’s impact on the planet.

Inspired by our fragile planet

The workshop, being run by Marilyn Groves from the English Chamber Orchestra, will involve participating in music, drama and movement activities which can be used with children in the classroom to raise awareness and communicate the importance to others of caring for our fragile planet. Creative inspiration will be taken from the food we eat and the impact the choices we make can have on the other side of the world. Dividing into smaller groups, participants will create: a soundscape to evoke the journey of certain foods (including a banana) from source to plate, the countries through which the food might travel and the music it might ‘hear’ on its journey; a song, scat or chant to trace that journey from source to plate and on to disposal; an improvised scene taking place in a fruit market in the Caribbean or a supermarket in Brent Cross. Lots of creative thinking, no performing arts skills required and absolutely no pressure!

Valuing our future - leading sustainable schools

This workshop, run by NCSL, will discuss what sustainability means and consider ways in which schools can become more sustainable. It will share the findings of a research study conducted by WWF to explore what sustainability currently looks like in schools and consider the skills and characteristics of those who are leading this important agenda.

The workshop will also share the NCSL sustainability toolkit which aims to help schools audit their current position and provides ideas for action that will help schools to operate in a more sustainable way.