The brief

We have been supporting Oakwood school in the development of its’ sustainability strategy since 2021. The school wanted to understand what their main sustainability impacts were, why this was the case and what they could do to improve their performance. They approached us to help them develop a sustainability strategy that addressed their impact, engaged their children, staff, governors and wider school community, and made tangible improvements now and into the future. 

 

What we did

• We conducted a materiality assessment to help them understand where their impacts (both from a risk and opportunity perspective) lay, across their school operations, (including their buildings and facilities, their purchases and their suppliers) and across their curriculum and wider educational offering. 

 

• We measured their carbon footprint to provide them with a baseline of data from which they could set reduction targets and monitor progress year on year (scope 1 and 2 initially and in the year ahead we will be helping them to assess the scope 3 emissions of their main suppliers)

 

• We developed a sustainability roadmap for Oakwood, providing actions to build specific sustainability programmes, identify any specialist expertise required, ways to monitor their progress and recommendations for governance, policies, resources and communications to maximise the value of their approach to sustainability. • 

 

• We worked in partnership with them to establish the governance and management structures so that sustainability is embedded in existing activities and supports their overall strategy for the school.

 

The result

Since we have been supporting Oakwood in the development and implementation of their sustainability strategy, the school has developed a number of sustainability initiatives covering both facilities improvements and environmental impact reduction (carbon, waste, water reduction) , as well as initiatives to integrate sustainability into the school curriculum, everyday life and wider community, engaging and benefiting staff, students, suppliers and school families alike. Examples of impact and progress are as follows: 

 

• The Pupil Green Team now has a programme of planting to support the biodiversity of the school environment and encourage wildlife
• Oakwood is powered by 100% certified renewable electricity. Lights are being replaced with LED and motion sensors and everyone is encouraged to switch off lights in empty classrooms. 
• The school is integrating real-world learning opportunities into the curriculum: calculating carbon emissions in maths, investigating ecological challenges in science, visiting the local recycling centre.
• Launched a cycle to work scheme for all staff.
• Reduced the schools direct carbon emissions by 18% since 2019 (As of when? Is this still up to date?)*
• Used natural materials where appropriate in the redevelopment of the Pre-Prep playground
• Pupil-led charity fundraising events and initiatives are encouraged and recognised with Charity Champion awards. 
• We are working with our waste collector to monitor volumes of different waste materials so that we can target action. 

 

In 2024 we will be working with the school to further develop their emissions reduction plans and actions across scope 1, 2 and 3, further engage their pupils, and governors through enrichment and briefing sessions and further embed sustainability across the school operations and strategy.