Climate Action Plan

Welcome to St Mary’s CE Primary School’s Climate Action Plan. Caring for God’s creation is fundamental to our school ethos, reflecting our commitment to looking after one another, our local community, and future generations.

Following the Department for Education’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, which expects all schools to establish a Climate Action Plan by 2025, we have created an ambitious framework to embed environmental stewardship across our entire school.

At St Mary’s, this work is driven directly by our pupils: our Sustainability Squad works side-by-side with our PSHE Lead to bring this vision to life, leading practical initiatives and empowering their peers to be informed, courageous, and proactive citizens.

Our strategy concentrates on four primary areas:

1. Decarbonisation and Energy Efficiency

Reducing carbon output and involving pupils in the transition to Net Zero. We are actively lowering our carbon footprint by boosting energy efficiency across our site, cutting down on waste, encouraging active and sustainable travel, and selecting environmentally responsible suppliers. Through these daily actions, we aim to significantly reduce emissions and safeguard the planet.

2. Biodiversity and Green Infrastructure

Nurturing wildlife, improving air quality, and deepening our connection to nature. We use our school grounds and surrounding environment as living classrooms. By planting native flora, creating new wildlife habitats, and prioritizing outdoor learning, we teach our pupils to treasure local ecosystems and embrace their role as active caretakers of God’s creation.

3. Climate Adaptation and Resilience

Understanding, preparing for, and mitigating climate risks. We are continually evaluating our school site and daily operations to safeguard our community against changing weather patterns and environmental shifts. Our focus is on maintaining safe, comfortable, and resilient spaces where learning can thrive under any conditions.

4. Climate Education and Green Skills and Careers

Equipping pupils with the knowledge, hope, and skills for the future. Environmental understanding is integrated thoughtfully into our curriculum in an inspiring, solution-focused way. Guided by our Sustainability Squad, we explore real-world solutions and introduce pupils to emerging green skills and career paths, demonstrating how their choices can drive lasting, positive change.

By taking decisive action today, St Mary’s CE Primary School is meeting national benchmarks while living out our core values—ensuring our pupils are ready to lead the way toward a brighter, more sustainable future.

Our Climate Action Plan