- Home
- About
- Our Sustainable School
Our Sustainable School
As a society, we have become increasingly aware of environmental issues, climate change and the need to create a more sustainable future, and young people have helped to raise awareness of the challenges we face.
We believe that Beacon Academy has a crucial role to play in achieving environmental sustainability because we can help our students to understand the world around them and to develop skills and attitudes that will enable them to live fulfilled lives as responsible citizens.
Following COP26 in April 2022, the Department of Education (DfE) released their Sustainability & Climate Change Strategy for Education, envisioning the UK as the world-leading education sector in sustainability and climate change by 2030.
We are committed to educating our students about environmental concerns and the importance of living sustainably. We recognise our responsibility to ensure that students have the necessary skills and knowledge to understand environmental concerns, so that they can apply this to their lives and adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle. We encourage both students and staff to think about the environment and how their actions will impact upon their local surroundings, as well as the global environment.
For this reason, we have implemented an environmental sustainability policy. Effective use of this policy will ensure students are taught about environmental sustainability, promote an eco-friendly attitude, and ensure that the school itself is as sustainable as it can be. The policy covers waste and recycling, WEEE (Waste and electrical and electronic equipment), littering, school grounds, transport, healthy living, energy and reducing carbon emission.
- Recycling bins are in every classroom and office to collect wastepaper. Aluminium cans and food waste are also recycled.
- Procurement of local seasonal food wherever possible
- Litter picking around the school and local community
- Tree planting
- Removal of single use plastics across the site
- Water fountains readily available and re-usable water bottles encouraged
We work closely with our Chartwells catering team who are as a business dedicated to improving the way they operate to drive better health outcomes for children and reduce the impact on the planet. Across Chartwells, there is a set target of reducing food waste by 50% by 2030, as part of their commitment to Net Zero. As a result, Chartwells have commissions an in-depth piece of research looking at food waste. The research which will be conducted by sustainability experts Footprint will assess where food is currently wasted across the school and review the impact of a suite of interventions to inform how to best tackle these pressing issues.
Chartwells fundamentally care about the future that the next generation will inherit.
The school has undertaken a number of energy saving works over the past 4 years including;
- Extensive roof replacements with associated improved insulation
- Single glazed windows replaced with double glazed units with significant improved U value
- Biomass boilers provide heating to the school reducing gas consumption and providing a sustainable locally sourced fuel and reduction in school carbon footprint
- We have a rolling project in place to replace existing lighting with LED panels. Over 3000 sqm of ceilings have been removed and reinstated with suspended ceilings and LED lights.
- Student learning in our local outdoor environments.
- Students working together to plan and implement change with projects.
- Cycle to school initiative.