What do we believe?

The Church of England’s vision of education Deeply Christian, Serving the Common Good (2026) states:

“Good schools open up horizons of hope and aspiration and guide pupils into ways of fulfilling them… rooted in God’s love and compassion for all people and for the whole of creation.”

At St. Edmund’s, we believe that caring for God’s world is central to our mission. Guided by our mantra “A journey to discover life in all its fullness” (John 10:10) and our Sixcess values — Respect, Responsibility, Compassion, Truth & Trust, Perseverance, and Justice & Forgiveness — we encourage our children to:

• Be responsible for themselves, others, and the world around them
• Respect life in all its forms
• Look for hope and persevere in challenging times or situations
• Be courageous to stand up for what is right
• Ask for forgiveness for things we have done wrong
• Love one another and the world in which we live

Our Sustainability and Climate Action Plan is bound by these values and our common purpose: ensuring that every member of our school community can live life in all its fullness through the promotion and protection of God’s world.

What is Climate Change?

Climate change is defined as:

A change in global or regional climate patterns, in particular a change apparent from the mid to late 20th Century onwards and attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels.

The Earth’s climate is influenced by:

• Greenhouse gases from human activity
• Deforestation, with more than half the world’s surface ploughed or paved
• Ozone changes trapping heat closer to the Earth’s surface
• Air pollution, which alters atmospheric balance

The challenge of climate change is formidable. To face it with determination and not despair, children must be offered both truth and hope. They need knowledge-rich education about climate change, but also the confidence that they can be agents of change — through hands-on activity in school and, as they grow, by exploring green career pathways (DfE, 2023).

What can we do?

The DfE calls on all schools to create a Sustainability and Climate Action Plan. At St. Edmund’s, we are committed to reducing our environmental footprint as we work towards net zero, while also giving children the knowledge and skills to thrive in a green economy and to restore nature.

Through our plan, pupils will:

• Spend time in nature and learn to value it
• Become actively involved in improving their local environment
• Understand the health and wellbeing benefits of contact with green spaces
• See sustainability brought to life in their school buildings and curriculum

Children from EYFS to Year 6 will build a deep understanding of sustainability and climate change, and translate this into positive action and solutions.

Our Four Focus Areas:

Our plan is structured around the DfE’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy:

1. Decarbonisation – reducing carbon emissions and improving energy.
2. Adaptation and Resilience – addressing risks such as flooding and overheating.
3. Biodiversity – engaging with the National Education Nature Park and creating habitats.
4. Climate Education and Green Careers – knowledge-rich teaching, big enquiry questions, Eco Team projects.