Sustainable Schools

Introduction

The schools sector is currently involved in its most significant period of built asset investment for 50 years. More than £6 billion is being invested each year, with new buildings planned for every school in the UK. We therefore have an opportunity to influence the sustainability and quality of our schools to ensure that they play a full role in creating sustainable communities. Sustainable schools are designed to reduce waste, energy and resource use, provide community facilities, encourage healthy lifestyles and provide a better working environment for staff and a better learning environment for students and their families. As a result, a sustainable approach to the building can enhance the health and education of the local population, as well as improving staff productivity/ retention and the health, wellbeing & learning outcomes for students.

The SD Foundation has undertaken consultation with potential funders and users, including LEA and Schools personnel, about how to deliver more sustainable outcomes on school building projects. Most of this work occurred as part of the “Leading sustainable buildings” project sponsored by the National College for School Leaders and delivered in partnership with Forum for the Future and Cambridge Architectural Research. The project team consulted over 300 school leaders by questionnaire and engaged with over 100 delegates who attended a range of consultation workshops during March 2008; representatives covered a range of different types of schools, building works and locations, as well as those involved in different types of procurement approaches.

Our consultation work found that to deliver sustainable schools, it is essential to work with the key decision-makers for new school buildings i.e. with clients and funders. LEAs and school leaders already face a myriad of deadlines and budget constraints, so support programmes need to provide simple access to good practice and innovation in a form that best suits their needs. The SD Foundation has found that peer-group networks are one of the most effective and flexible mechanisms for achieving this, and is therefore developing plans for a Sustainable Schools Procurement Learning Programme - please click on the Activities tab for further details about our plans. 

Sustainable Schools Procurement - Learning Programme

The SD Foundation is currently developing an interactive and peer-group Learning Programme to help school leaders to deliver sustainability through their schools procurement processes.

The learning programme will:

• increase client/ funder awareness about sustainability and school buildings 
• enhance client/ funder capacity and understanding for delivery of sustainable projects
• increase the delivery of sustainable school projects, and
• campaign for changes to rules, regulations & procedures so that they support a sustainable approach

The Learning Programme will include the following activities:

• Case studies of practices relating to sustainable schools and how to procure one.
• Guidance and training for those embarking on a procurement programme. 
• Implementation support and mentoring during the procurement process.
• Peer group workshops to capture evidence and experience from participants. 

Sustainable Schools - Policy work

Zero Carbon Schools Task Force

The SD Foundation gathered a small group of experts to help shape our response to the Call for Evidence from the DCSF Zero Carbon Schools Task Force. Read our response here.

Schools Staff + Associates

Tom Randall
Associate

Website: http://www.sbeo.co.uk

+ more info

Tom is a consultant, providing advice on a range of issues relating to sutainable development in the built enviornment. He has worked for FaberMaunsell (now AECOM) and Fulcrum Consulting. Tom is also a Director of Sponge (www.spongenet.org), a network open to all built enviornment professionals with an interest in sustainable development. His work for Sponge involves organising the informal, accessible events that Sponge runs, including site visits, debates, and policy consultation discussions.
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