Substainability
St Martin’s Catholic Primary School Climate Action Plan: 2025–28
What is a Climate Action Plan?
In April 2022, the Department for Education released a sustainability and climate change strategy for education. By 2025, all schools are expected to appoint a sustainability lead and develop a climate action plan. This plan guides schools in both implementing and teaching sustainability initiatives.
Our climate action plan has been created collaboratively by the headteacher, Assistant Head, One World Council lead, chair of governors, and the lead governor for sustainability.
Why Do We Want to Act?
At St Martin’s Catholic Primary School, our ethos is rooted in preparing pupils for a sustainable future while living out our faith values. Our guiding principle, “Global Awareness – Local Responsibility,” reflects our commitment to thinking globally and acting locally to care for God’s creation.
Respect and care for the environment are central to our school culture. Our students engage regularly with nature through outdoor learning and school grounds activities, fostering a connection to the world around them.
Embedding Sustainability in the Curriculum
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are integrated across our curriculum to give pupils a strong understanding of environmental responsibility:
• Local Environment & Biomes: Pupils explore local green spaces, rivers, and wildlife, connecting with SDG 15: Life on Land.
• Local Area Studies: Lessons on land use and community impact link to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
• Weather, Seasons & Rivers: Pupils learn about climate patterns and water preservation, supporting SDG 13: Climate Action and SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.
• Natural Disasters: Students examine environmental and human impacts, fostering resilience to climate change.
• Global Studies (Africa, Asia, Contrasting Localities): Pupils learn about sustainable practices in different countries, promoting awareness of global environmental diversity.
• Oceans & Continents: Topics include natural disasters, polar regions, and sustainable food practices.
• Environmental Champions: Pupils are inspired by figures such as David Attenborough, demonstrating the importance of protecting the planet.
While our curriculum already supports environmental learning, the escalating climate crisis and its impact on our pupils’ wellbeing mean we need to act further.
How We Will Deliver and Monitor the Plan
Our climate action plan focuses on four key areas:
1. Decarbonisation Reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency across school (infant and junior buildings).
Action to be taken:
Complete an energy audit: Conduct a full audit of the school’s energy consumption using data from electricity and gas usage.
Printing – encourage less printing as a whole school initiative. Set default printing to black and white and remind staff not to photocopy from buff paper.
Reduce Waste: Introduced paper recycling boxes in all classrooms, offices, staff room and kitchen, successfully recycling paper waste.
Eco Habits: Introduce weekly and daily energy conservation schemes, for instance ‘St Martin’s Switch-Off’ encouraging pupils and staff to actively reduce energy consumption in a day e.g. break and lunch to turn off lights and IWBs.
Summer ‘walk to school’ week – to conduct a travel survey / encourage walking to school.
Litter picking – Relaunch Litter Picking initiative with pupils.
2.Adaptation and Resilience Ensure the school site Is prepared for climate related risks, especially flooding and overheating
Action to be taken:
Evaluate Rainwater Diversion Systems: Ensure guttering and drainpipes are cleared and water management systems are effective, ready for heavy rain.
Cooler Classrooms: Install window blinds in areas without.
Rainwater Harvesting: Fit water butts and reuse rainwater for the garden areas.
3.Improving the Environment and Biodiversity Enhance the school’s green space and promote diversity with student involvement.
Sensory/ Faith Garden Development: Create a reflective outdoor prayer and nature spaces for worship and wildlife, in the junior playground.
Planting of laurel bushes: Partner with chair of governors to develop area along perimeter fencing.
Planting of flowers: Introduce more plants and flowers around the site liaising with grounds maintenance.
Forest School: Develop forest school area encourage use
4. Climate Education and Green Careers Deliver climate education across the curriculum and inspire pupils towards green futures.
Action to be taken:
Curriculum Mapping: Integrate sustainability principles into Science, D&T, Geography and RE – to make explicit through coding.
Staff CPD: Sustainability lead to undertake CPD to develop subject knowledge in this area. Hold a briefing to feed back to staff.
Eco Day: Hold an annual sustainability awareness day . Host workshops led by pupils and develop units of work specifically focused on environmental themes
Careers Focus: Invite visitors and charities to speak to pupils.
Pupil Voice: Establish an Eco/ Gardening Club to shape decisions and lead eco initiatives.
5. Governance and Monitoring
Termly meetings held as a Sustainability Team to check in on progress against objectives.
Community Involvement: Engage families, parish groups, and local partners in events and volunteering.
DfE Updates: Monitor publications from the Department for Education, including the statutory requirements for schools engaging in climate and sustainability action.
Each area has clear objectives with specific actions for the academic year.
Community Involvement
The entire school community: pupils, staff, parents, and local partners will collaborate to deliver this plan. Listening to ideas, building relationships, and sharing resources will help us achieve our sustainability goals.
Governance and Accountability
The governing body will oversee implementation, with monitoring by the sustainability lead governor. Staff will be given time and resources to develop and lead initiatives.