Climate Action Plan

What do we believe?

At Overchurch Junior School we believe in nurturing our children to learn, grow and care for their world together. We encourage our pupils to:

Take responsibility for themselves and others
Respect life in all its forms and value the environment
Find hope even in difficult situations and be courageous to stand up for what they believe in
Show kindness, compassion and love for one another and for the planet we inhabit

With this guiding vision, our Sustainability & Climate Action Plan is rooted in our shared commitment to protect our world, to reduce our environmental impact, and to empower all members of our school community to live sustainably and responsibly.

What is climate change?

Climate change is defined as a change in global or regional climate patterns — especially an increased warming of the Earth attributable largely to human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and rising greenhouse gas emissions.
Human-driven factors include:

Emissions of greenhouse gases from industry, transport and energy production
Loss of natural habitats through deforestation, paving and land-use change
Air pollution and ozone layer impacts that trap more heat in the Earth’s atmosphere

The challenge of climate change is substantial. Our mission is not only to share the truth about climate change with our children, but also to give them hope and a sense of agency so they can act for the good of the planet, rather than feel powerless.

What can we do?

The Department for Education has urged all schools to establish a sustainability/climate action plan, demonstrating how we — as a school community — can support national and global efforts to protect our environment, work towards net zero carbon, and nurture green thinking.
As Overchurch Junior School, we have an important role: to reduce our environmental footprint, to equip our pupils with the knowledge and skills to participate in the green economy, and to restore, protect and value nature.

Through our Sustainability & Climate Action Plan we will engage our pupils, staff and wider community, supporting them to develop a rich understanding of sustainability, climate change and environmental responsibility - from Year 3 to Year 6 (and beyond).

Our focus areas

Aligned with the four key themes identified by the Department for Education’s sustainability and climate change strategy, our plan focuses on:

Decarbonisation – Taking action to reduce carbon emissions and becoming more energy efficient.
Adaptation & Resilience – Reducing risks such as flooding, overheating and other climate-related hazards.
Biodiversity – Engaging with local nature, creating habitats, restoring ecosystems and connecting children with the natural world.
Climate Education & Green Careers – Providing a knowledge-rich curriculum about climate change, sustainability and pathways into greener futures.

Additionally, we commit to creating an environment where:

Children spend time in nature, develop a connection with it, and learn to value it.
Pupils become actively involved in improving their local environment and understand that time outdoors and green spaces support both their physical and mental wellbeing.
We bring sustainability into the heart of our school buildings and grounds so that children can see, experience and learn from the changes being made.

Implementation at Overchurch Junior School

Our children will participate in hands-on climate adaptation and decarbonisation activities — for example: investigating energy and water usage, being involved in improving our school site, seeing how sustainable design works in practice.
We will offer a curriculum that develops broad knowledge and understanding of the causes and impact of climate change, and supports learners to translate that knowledge into positive action and solutions.
Our school will work collaboratively with pupils, staff, families and the community to ensure that our actions are meaningful and sustained over time.
This is our first draft of the plan and it will be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect progress and new ideas.

Key Documents

Climate Action Plan

Climate Action Plan/ Policy

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sustainability-leadership-and-climate-action-plans-in-education