Substainability
Vision
Guided by our Catholic ethos, St Martin’s is committed to leading by example in environmental responsibility and sustainable practice.
We seek to protect our common home through educating our pupils about climate awareness and by acting together as a school community in meaningful and practical ways.
Sustainability at St Martin's, Objectives:
1. Decarbonisation Reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency across school (infant and junior buildings).
Action to be taken:
Complete an energy audit: Conduct a full audit of the school’s energy consumption using data from electricity and gas usage.
Printing – encourage less printing as a whole school initiative. Set default printing to black and white and remind staff not to photocopy from buff paper.
Reduce Waste: Introduced paper recycling boxes in all classrooms, offices, staff room and kitchen, successfully recycling paper waste.
Eco Habits: Introduce weekly and daily energy conservation schemes, for instance ‘St Martin’s Switch-Off’ encouraging pupils and staff to actively reduce energy consumption in a day e.g. break and lunch to turn off lights and IWBs.
Summer ‘walk to school’ week – to conduct a travel survey / encourage walking to school.
Litter picking – Relaunch Litter Picking initiative with pupils.
2.Adaptation and Resilience Ensure the school site Is prepared for climate related risks, especially flooding and overheating
Action to be taken:
Evaluate Rainwater Diversion Systems: Ensure guttering and drainpipes are cleared and water management systems are effective, ready for heavy rain.
Cooler Classrooms: Install window blinds in areas without.
Rainwater Harvesting: Fit water butts and reuse rainwater for the garden areas.
3.Improving the Environment and Biodiversity Enhance the school’s green space and promote diversity with student involvement.
Sensory/ Faith Garden Development: Create a reflective outdoor prayer and nature spaces for worship and wildlife, in the junior playground.
Planting of laurel bushes: Partner with chair of governors to develop area along perimeter fencing.
Planting of flowers: Introduce more plants and flowers around the site liaising with grounds maintenance.
Forest School: Develop forest school area encourage use
4. Climate Education and Green Careers Deliver climate education across the curriculum and inspire pupils towards green futures.
Action to be taken:
Curriculum Mapping: Integrate sustainability principles into Science, D&T, Geography and RE – to make explicit through coding.
Staff CPD: Sustainability lead to undertake CPD to develop subject knowledge in this area. Hold a briefing to feed back to staff.
Eco Day: Hold an annual sustainability awareness day . Host workshops led by pupils and develop units of work specifically focused on environmental themes
Careers Focus: Invite visitors and charities to speak to pupils.
Pupil Voice: Establish an Eco/ Gardening Club to shape decisions and lead eco initiatives.
5. Governance and Monitoring
Termly meetings held as a Sustainability Team to check in on progress against objectives.
Community Involvement: Engage families, parish groups, and local partners in events and volunteering.
DfE Updates: Monitor publications from the Department for Education, including the statutory requirements for schools engaging in climate and sustainability action.
