The London Borough of Waltham Forest has made a commitment to reduce its carbon footprint by increasing amounts during the coming years (set out in the “Local Strategic Partnership; Climate Change Strategic Delivery Plan” (303KB PDF file).


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A committee of MPs reported that in the UK, schools contribute at least 2% of the national carbon emissions and reducing this amount will help to achieve the target of cutting its overall emissions by 60%. The government has pledged that its aim is for all schools to be ‘sustainable’ by 2020.
For more information please visit  www.teachernet.gov.uk/sustainableschools

To become a “sustainable school” the whole school community must adopt the sustainable development principle to "meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

Becoming a “sustainable school” is about challenging and changing habits and ways of thinking.

Waltham Forest is working to support schools on ways in which sustainable development can be embedded into whole-school management practices and provides practical guidance to help schools operate in a more sustainable way.

Below are links to a number of different council run programmes and resources offering support to schools to become sustainable.

The borough runs two environmental education centres;

Suntrap Forest Education Centre

Raising Achievement – outdoors

Suntrap specialises in teaching pupils about the natural world, offering high quality outdoor learning experiences in Epping Forest or through outreach in schools’ local area or grounds.

Activities on offer include learning about the diversity of plants and animals in different habitats, bush craft skills including shelter building or fire making, learning to navigate using map and compass, team building and camping.

For more information contact Kerry Rolison, Head of Centre


Suntrap Forest Education Centre
Church Road
High Beach
Loughton
Essex IG10 4AJ

Tel 020 8508 0611
Email Suntrap.centre@walthamforest.gov.uk
Website http://webfronter.com/waltham-forest/SuntrapForestEducationCentre/

The Waste and Recycling Education Centre is an innovative way to get children involved in recycling and learn about the environment. The centre boasts exciting interactive displays, interesting artefacts and films about recycling and waste issues.

Visit the centre to find out about the UK's rubbish problem, learn how to make a real difference by reducing rubbish and recycling at home. Discover what can be made from rubbish. Find out what products can be recycled, where items go to be recycled and see the types of products that can be made from recycled materials.

John Beanse Waste and Recycling Education Centre
Pimp Hall
48 Kings Road
Chingford E4 7HR

For more information and booking contact Anita Starling, Recycling Officer on 020 8496 3000

Travel and traffic

Waltham Forest Council’s Travel Plan Advisors will assist each school in developing their own site specific travel plan to ensure the school is eligible for the travel plan grant from central government worth £3,750 for primary schools and  £5,000 for secondary schools. The School Travel Plans will support sustainable travel initiatives during families’ daily school run.

For more information contact Neil Bullen, Programme Manager Transport Planning on 020 8496 3000

Sustainable Modes of Travel to School Strategy

The overall aim of the Sustainable Modes of Travel to School Strategy is to promote a positive change in travel patterns towards safer, healthier, and more sustainable journeys to school

Go Green Award

The Waltham Forest Go Green Awards is a new scheme designed to recognise the work that schools and our young people are doing to help tackle climate change and improve the environment they live in. It is a comprehensive environmental award scheme that will not only allow schools to enter but will help prepare schools to enter other environmental awards ( see eco schools below).

The scheme aims to raise awareness of environmental issues and get children, schools and the wider community to take responsibility and act against climate change and work towards making their environment a better place to live in.

Help us to act now to improve the environment we live in for future generations.

For more information contact Corinne Hibberd on 020 8496 3000

Junior Street Watchers

The Junior Street Watchers Scheme is a new pilot project being run by the Council with Davies Lane Primary school for a period of six months, if successful we will roll it out borough wide.

The scheme is about getting children to take responsibility for issues in the area they live in and to be an extra pair of eyes for the Council, reporting any environmental problems to us so that we can take the necessary action to put them right. The campaign's motto is “See it report it”.

For more information contact Corinne Hibberd on 020 8496 3000

Cycle training courses

The borough’s Accident Prevention Unit offer cycle training to pupils equipping pupils with the knowledge of how to travel to school on a safe and environmentally friendly mode of transport.

For more information contact David Garrod 020 8496 3000 or email david.garrod@walthamforest.gov.uk

Eco Schools

The Procurement Manager offers support to schools to become an eco school. This is an accredited international environmental award programme that guides schools on their sustainable journey, proving a framework to help embed these principles into the heart of school life. For more information on eco schools visit  www.eco-schools.org.uk

At present there are 14 schools in Waltham Forest registered with eco schools.

It is very simple for schools to register after which you will undertake a basic environmental audit identifying strengths and weaknesses.  Then the school will choose two areas to specialise in. It is possible for schools to work together in clusters choosing areas, setting goals for the year and collating evidence.

For more information contact Beverley Allen on 020 8496 3000 or email Beverley.allen@walthamforest.gov.uk

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Waltham Forest Youth Service run the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme in the borough. The DofE programme is aimed at showing 14-24 year olds that there is more to life than sitting on a sofa and watching life pass you by!

Young people who take part in this award have the chance to help people or the community, getting fitter, developing skills and going on an expedition.

For more information contact

Youth Service Central Office
Outset Building
2a Grange Road
Walthamstow E17 8AH

Tel 020 8496 1530
Fax 020 8496 1536
Email youth.service@walthamforest.gov.uk