Yateley School Crest
Yateley School

Environment and values

Climate and Sustainability Plan

Yateley School recognises the urgent need to respond to the climate crisis. This plan sets out how the school will reduce environmental impact, embed sustainability into learning and operations, and inspire climate-conscious behaviours across the community.

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Sustainability

A practical plan for a greener future

The Climate and Sustainability Action Plan brings together student voice, staff leadership and community action. It focuses on clear, achievable work across decarbonisation, adaptation and resilience, biodiversity, and climate education.

1. Introduction

Whole-school

At Yateley School, we recognise the urgent need to respond to the global climate crisis and to lead by example in building a more sustainable future. As educators, we have a responsibility not only to prepare our students academically but also to equip them with the knowledge, values, and skills needed to address the environmental challenges facing their generation.

This Climate and Sustainability Action Plan outlines our commitment to reducing our environmental impact, embedding sustainability into our curriculum and operations, and inspiring climate-conscious behaviour throughout our school community. Guided by national and international frameworks, including the UK government's net zero targets, our plan reflects a whole-school approach engaging students, staff, families, and local partners.

To make this vision a reality, we have set clear, achievable goals across four key pillars: Decarbonisation, Adaptation and Resilience, Biodiversity, and Climate Education and Green Careers.

2. The four pillars of our plan

Overview

2.1 Decarbonisation

Reduce emissions from energy and utilities, purchasing and services, transport, food, waste and water.

  • Build on existing successes such as solar, LEDs and optimised heating.
  • Invest in low-carbon infrastructure and behaviours.

2.2 Adaptation and Resilience

Prepare buildings, systems and people for climate impacts and support wellbeing.

  • Reduce overheating and flood risk while maintaining learning continuity.
  • Support staff and learners, acknowledging eco-anxiety.

2.3 Biodiversity

Protect and enhance nature, improve air quality and increase access to green spaces.

  • Use the school as a living lab: create habitats and citizen science.
  • Enable students to care for their environment.

2.4 Climate Education and Green Careers

Embed climate education, develop green skills, empower student action and pathways to green careers.

Employment in an activity that contributes to protecting or restoring the environment, including those that mitigate or adapt to climate change. UK Department for Education, 2022

Decarbonisation

Pillar 1

Our vision: lead by example in creating a low-carbon future, reducing our environmental impact through sustainable choices, inspiring our community, and preparing students to be responsible stewards of the planet.

What we have achieved so far

ActionBenefit / Impact
Installed 400 solar panels across A Block, C Block and Sports Hall~146,230 kWh/year generation; ~37.4 tCO2 saved annually.
New condensing boilers in A BlockOn ~400,000 kWh/year consumption, ~13.5 tCO2 saved annually.
LED lighting replacement programme~66,000 kWh/year saved; ~15.3 tCO2 reduction.
Turning off fridges/freezers in school holidays~833 kWh/year saved; ~0.194 tCO2 reduction.
Updated heating controls for manual/optimised schedules~200,000 kWh/year saved; ~6.7 tCO2 reduction.

Action plan

ActionResponsibility and StakeholdersTimescaleResources requiredTarget / MeasureReporting
Install EV charging points; explore community accessBusiness Manager and HeadteacherAutumn 2025Partner EV provider; 4 chargers; electricity refund and profit-shareCharging available for staff and communityFGB approval; usage updates
Food waste and recycling bins; introduce composting (non-cooked)All staffAutumn 2025Purchase bins; posters and communications50% of food waste collected by Summer 2026Whole school, SLT, governors, parents, LA, Environment Agency
Sensor lighting to complement LED upgradesSite Manager and Business ManagerAutumn 2025Electrical contractor; equipmentEnergy savings; greener estateWhole school, SLT and governors
Travel activity audit and carbon footprint with pledgesSustainability Lead / SLTSpring 2025Microsoft Form; incentives for lift-share and public transportAssembly share; student and staff pledgesStudents, staff, governors, community and county
Student Energy Monitors; house competitionSustainability Lead / Green TeamAutumn 2025Recruit volunteers; launch competitionReduced out-of-use energy consumptionStudents, staff, governors, community and county
Create student-friendly menus; add Meat-Free Monday; reduce UPFsCatering ManagerAutumn 2025Menu development; surveys of students and parentsNew menus; engagement feedback; termly reviewStudents, staff, governors and parents
Annual travel survey and review of overseas tripsSustainability LeadSpring 2026Use carbon survey data; consider alternativesPlan agreed; CO2 savings reported where applicableStudents, staff, governors, community and county
Reduce paper use; default to electronic communications and trip processesSustainability LeadSpring 2026Leverage Papercut data; departmental targetsFurther reduction beyond secure-print usage savingsWhole school, parents and community
Promote pre-loved uniform donationsSustainability LeadSpring 2026Admin for points; storage and processing; social media campaignExpanded reuse scheme across year groupsStudents, staff, governors, community and county

Adaptation and Resilience

Pillar 2

Our vision: build an environment and community that can adapt to a changing climate, protecting wellbeing, safeguarding learning and strengthening our capacity to thrive.

Five steps to a climate-resilient school

Action plan

ActionResponsibility and StakeholdersTimescaleResources requiredTarget / MeasureReporting
Rainwater collection for planting and food growingSustainability Lead / Green TeamAutumn 2025Purchase/donate butts; seek grantsReduced water billsStaff, students, community, governors and county
Canopy/shade outside areas; potential outdoor teaching spaceSite Manager and Business ManagerAug 2025, then ongoing reviewContractor delivery; site survey for further areasIncreased shade and usage; development planWhole school, parents and governors
Plant trees/hedgerows for shade and habitatGreen TeamAutumn 2025Trees and hedgerow stock; planting daysStaff/student engagement; phased planStudents, staff, community, governors and county
Install blinds and window film; adjust rooming on hot daysSite Manager and Business ManagerSummer 2026Materials; advance cover/rooming planUpgrade plan and transparent communicationsWhole school, parents and governors
Review moving Sports Day to cooler periodHead of PE and HeadteacherSpring 2026SLT discussions; risk assessments; communicationsDate confirmed; mitigations in placeWhole school, parents and governors
Increase water fountains to reduce single-use plasticsBusiness Manager and Site ManagerAutumn 2025Lease and maintain units; distribution surveySufficient access in each blockStudents, staff, governors and county

Biodiversity

Pillar 3

Our vision: protect and enhance the natural world within and beyond our school, creating thriving spaces for wildlife, enriching learning through nature and fostering respect for the ecosystems that sustain life.

Five-step process using a living lab approach

Action plan

ActionResponsibility and StakeholdersTimescaleResources requiredTarget / MeasureReporting
Restore wildlife pond behind A Block; assign upkeepSustainability Lead and Green TeamSpring 2026Clarify ownership; tools and kit; ongoing budgetPond safely in use; maintenance planWhole school, parents and governors
No-mow areas in May behind G BlockSite ManagerSpring 2026Mark/fence areas; contractor briefAnnual plan; awareness for staff and studentsStudents, staff, community, governors and county
Whole-school litter reduction with student wardensWhole SchoolAutumn 2025Litter pickers; assemblies; student voice recruitmentSite remains largely litter-freeSLT and student committees
Nature/gardening clubs; allotment between D6 and E Block; grow for canteenHead of Food Tech and Green TeamAutumn 2025 ongoingDonated materials; seeds and tools from staff/communitySeasonal yields; reduced food miles; learning outcomesStudents, staff, community, governors and county
Green walls and roofs feasibility and phased installationSustainability LeadSummer 2026Site survey of orientation/exposure; feasibility studyFeasibility approved; installation planStudents, staff, community, governors and county
Create Environmental Ambassadors; wildlife camera and reportingSustainability LeadSpring 2026Recruit team; define remit; communications via displays/newsletterRegular meetings; updates to SLT; visible outputsWhole school, parents and community

Climate Education and Green Careers

Pillar 4

Our vision: empower every student with the knowledge, skills and values to understand climate change, drive sustainable solutions and shape a greener, fairer future.

  • Embed climate education across the curriculum and enable cross-disciplinary projects.
  • Develop green skills for learners and staff; empower and equip students to take action.
  • Provide experiences and pathways that support future green careers.

Action plan

ActionResponsibility and StakeholdersTimescaleResources requiredTarget / MeasureReporting
Appoint Sustainability Lead; integrate remit across leadershipHeadteacherAutumn 2025Staff communications; potential small teamLead in post; remit agreedHeadteacher and governors
Create a student Green Team to lead projects and report to governorsSustainability LeadFrom Sept 2025; ongoingRecruitment; role descriptions; meeting cadenceGreen Team active across 2025-26Students, staff, governors, community and county
Curriculum audit of sustainability and climate change contentCurriculum LeadAutumn 2025Review and report to SLTDocumented evidence of sufficient contentStudents, staff, governors, community and county
Include climate education in the School Improvement PlanSLTSpring 2025SLT review; recommendations to HeadteacherNext SIP update references the planStaff and governors
Upcycling projects and circular-economy focusSLTSummer 2026Integration into Business Week; success criteriaEvent delivered; learning outcomes capturedStudents, staff and governors
Communicate energy data; link to carbon storage in maths; empower Energy MonitorsBusiness ManagerAutumn 2025Data sharing with monitors; targets and challengesRegular challenge and improved understanding of consumptionStudents, staff, governors, community and county

Reporting and Governance

Transparency

Progress will be shared through assemblies, newsletters, displays and an annual sustainability report. Formal updates will be provided to SLT, governors and the wider community. Where targets involve external stakeholders, reporting lines will reflect those requirements.

  • Ownership: Named leads for each action ensure accountability.
  • Review cycle: Termly progress checks; annual review and refresh.
  • Data: Energy, travel and waste metrics underpin targets and evaluation.