Website of the UK government

Getting to school

One of the main areas where you can have an effect is choosing how your child gets to school. Private car travel is a big source of carbon emissions, so finding alternative ways of getting to school will make a difference. Things you could do include:

• try to use greener methods of transport – cycling, walking or public transport
• consider helping with a walking bus service for the school (a supervised walk to school scheme)
• suggest that your school supplies pupils with secure cycle sheds and takes measures to ensure safe routes to school
• if you have to travel by car, see if you can share with a neighbour or friend

• School transport (education and learning section)
• Walk to school campaign for primary schools Opens new window
• Walk to school campaign for secondary schools (Step Up) Opens new window

Food and drink at school

Producing, transporting and consuming food is responsible for nearly a third of our impact on climate change. Choices about packed lunches, tuck shops and the canteen can help the environment - and can often have additional benefits for children's health:

• suggest stocking fresh, locally in season or Fairtrade produce in the tuck shop or canteen
• suggest, or offer, to set up a fruit and vegetable garden in the school grounds - this could also provide many learning opportunities and links to the curriculum

• Greener food and drink: a quick guide

Reducing waste at school

There are many opportunities to reduce waste at school. For example, you could encourage the school to:

• set up recycling bins in the classroom and encourage pupils to recycle
• use both sides of paper to reduce waste
• encourage pupils to pass on or sell old text books to other pupils once they've finished with them - perhaps the school could set up a scheme
• consider setting up a compost bin at the school to reduce food waste
• arrange a visit to a local landfill or recycling site so pupils can see what happens to their waste

• Tips on recycling at school - RecycleNow Opens new window

Saving energy at school

Suggestions for saving energy in a school could include:

• encouraging pupils to turn off lights and electronic equipment when they have finished using them
• switching off computer monitors and printers properly instead of leaving them on standby
• considering using energy saving light bulbs at the school, or even alternative energy sources for heating, like wind or solar power - for tips and fun activities on how to reduce energy further, see the Generation Green website

• Generation Green Opens new window

Greener school schemes and plans

There are many schemes that offer help to make schools greener, for example:

School-wide schemes:

• the Sustainable Schools Strategy framework helps schools think about how to green the whole school
• schools can register for the Eco-Schools programme for free - various grants are available to registered schools for making changes to improve the environment
  

• Sustainable schools (Teachernet) Opens new window
• Eco-Schools Opens new window

Travel:

• find out about the walk to school campaign; schools can register as a WoW school, which promotes walking to school once a week, with rewards for children who take part
• if the school develops a School Travel Plan, it could then apply for a grant to encourage students to use environmentally friendly forms of transport
  

• Walk to school Opens new window
• School Travel Plans and grants Opens new window

Energy:

• the Energy Certification for Schools scheme helps schools save money on energy, reduce carbon emissions and improve the environment

• Register for the Energy Certification for Schools scheme Opens new window

Environmental education:

• the Globe programme supports education on the environment - children measure aspects of their school’s environment, record results online and can then compare their findings with other schools from across the world

• The Globe Programme Opens new window

More useful links

• School transport (education and learning section)
• Support from the Carbon Trust to make your school more energy efficient Opens new window
• Fairtrade in school Opens new window
• Organic gardening for schools Opens new window
• Fun recycling activities for schools Opens new window
• Bike it - cycling in schools project Opens new window