Climate Action Plan
Our Commitment to Climate Action
At Grange CofE Primary School, we are committed to caring for God’s creation and playing our part in responding to the climate and nature emergency. Our Climate Action Plan (2025–2026) sets out clear, practical steps we are taking to reduce our environmental impact, strengthen climate education, and help our children become responsible, hopeful stewards of the future.
We work closely with national programmes such as Let’s Go Zero and follow guidance from the Department for Education’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy.
Our Key Aims
- Reduce the school’s carbon footprint and improve energy efficiency
- Increase biodiversity and green spaces across the school site
- Equip pupils and staff with climate knowledge, skills and positive actions
- Build resilience to future environmental challenges such as heat, flooding and water scarcity
- Work in partnership with families and the wider community
What We Are Doing
🌍 Measuring and Reducing Carbon Emissions
- Joining the Let’s Go Zero campaign to work towards a zero-carbon future
- Calculating our carbon baseline using the Count Your Carbon tool
- Monitoring energy use through smart meters and the Energy Sparks platform
- Investigating the installation of solar panels, subject to site suitability and funding
- Running pupil-led switch-off and energy-saving campaigns
⚡ Energy and Everyday Behaviour
- Encouraging classes to take responsibility for turning off lights, screens and devices
- Using eco-competitions and awards to celebrate positive behaviour
- Introducing power-down strategies across the school day
🍽️ Food and Waste
- Working with our new catering provider to increase plant-based and planet-friendly options
- Exploring meat-free days and sourcing local, sustainable ingredients
- Teaching pupils about the waste hierarchy: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- Running swap events (e.g. Halloween costumes, Christmas jumpers, books)
- Reusing and recycling play equipment through OPAL play initiatives
🚶 Sustainable Transport
- Taking part in national active travel campaigns such as Walk to School events
- Promoting walking, cycling and Park & Stride initiatives
- Working with families and local partners to explore travel challenges in rural Cumbria
🌱 Biodiversity and Nature
- Developing outdoor learning areas, including regeneration of our pond area
- Creating new habitats with bird boxes, bug hotels, planting and green walls
- Taking part in The Nature Park programme
- Running nature and gardening clubs with support from the community
- Carrying out regular BioBlitz surveys to monitor wildlife
☀️ Climate Adaptation and Resilience
- Adding planting and green walls to reduce overheating in classrooms
- Installing water butts to harvest rainwater
- Auditing water use and checking for leaks
- Teaching pupils about water conservation
📚 Climate Education and Green Skills
- Embedding sustainability and climate education across the curriculum
- Providing staff training, including Carbon Literacy
- Offering pupil eco-awards and leadership roles
- Inviting visitors and ambassadors to talk about green careers and skills
Working Together
Our Climate Action Plan is supported by a Sustainability Working Group, including staff, governors, pupils, Eco Club members and our School Council. We believe real change happens when the whole community is involved.
We will continue to review our progress, celebrate successes, and share updates through our website, newsletters and local community channels.
Our Vision
By taking action now, we aim to:
- Reduce our environmental impact year on year
- Inspire children to believe they can make a difference
- Create a healthier, greener school for everyone
“Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14)
If you would like to support or get involved in our climate work, please contact the school office.
