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Why every school needs a sustainability lead

Blog
The YPO Team
10 Nov 2025

From 2025, all education settings in England are required to appoint a Sustainability Lead and develop a Climate Action Plan (CAP). This marks a significant shift in the role of education in responding to the current climate crisis and embedding sustainability into educational institutions. This will ensure the next generation is fully equipped with the knowledge, skills, and values required to build a more sustainable and greener future.

What is a Sustainability Lead?

The Sustainability Lead is responsible for driving environmental initiatives and sustainable practices across the school. Their role is strategic, collaborative and ethical, working with senior leaders, union reps, and staff members to implement sustainability into key operations and the school’s overall culture.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and overseeing the school’s Climate Action Plan
• Coordinating energy-saving and biodiversity projects
• Engaging staff and students in sustainability initiatives
• Integrating climate education into the school curriculum
• Monitoring progress and building external partnerships

What should a climate action plan include?

A Climate Action Plan is more than compliance document - it’s a strategic framework tailored to your school’s values and priorities. Through this plan, it guides meaningful action across school operations, curriculum development, and community engagement. Through integrating sustainability into the fabric of everyday school life and aligning with your school’s ethos and values, you can create a purposeful approach that empowers staff, students and the wider community to take ownership of climate initiatives and drive long-term environmental change.

Core components of the plan include:

• Baseline emissions: Establish your school’s carbon footprint using tools like Count Your Carbon which measures emissions from heating, electricity, transport, and waste.

• Decarbonisation: Actions may include upgrading heating systems, improving insulation, switching to LED lighting, and using renewable energy sources.

• Climate adaptation: Prepare for climate impacts such as heatwaves and flooding by improving drainage, installing shade structures, and adjusting timetables during extreme weather.

• Nature engagement: Participate in the National Education Nature Park by creating wildlife habitats, planting trees, and using outdoor spaces for learning.

• Curriculum integration: Embed climate science, sustainability and green careers into teaching and learning

• Sustainable travel: Promote walking and cycling through initiatives like Walk to School Week and improved bike storage.

Support available for schools

The Department for Education (DfE) provides a range of free resources and expert support to help schools implement sustainability effectively.

Visit the Sustainability Support for Education website for:

• Step-by-step guidance on appointing a Sustainability Lead and building your Climate Action Plan.
• Templates, policy examples, curriculum-linked teaching materials, and case studies.

• Tools for self-assessment and identifying areas for improvement.

• Advice on forming sustainability teams and embedding climate goals into governance.
• Information on grants, budgeting strategies, and tailored recommendations for different education phases.

Climate Ambassador Programme

The Climate Ambassador Programme is a UK-wide initiative launched in May 2024 which connects schools with volunteer sustainability professionals who offer free expertise and support to nurseries, schools and colleges to develop and deliver impactful climate action plans.

Funded by the Department for Education (DfE), they work in partnerships to help education settings in the UK take action to become more climate resilient and environmentally sustainable - while offering mentoring for sustainability leads and leadership teams. The programme also offers expert advice on energy efficiency, biodiversity, and climate education.

The importance for schools

Driving sustainability is essential for all educational institutions, as extreme weather conditions are currently disrupting schools - causing road closures, damaging facilities, and affecting people’s well-being. Without necessary action, schools could lose up to eight days of learning per year due to high temperatures alone.

The Sustainability Lead plays a vital role in turning national policy into practical steps that protect learning time, improve resilience, and create healthier environments for staff and students. Ensuring you have clear leadership for sustainability in place, and a climate action plan will allow your educational setting to increase the confidence and expertise of those involved in understanding climate change and use data effectively to identify and prioritise key action points.

What can you do?

Whether you're in leadership, teaching, or support - ask your team: Who is our Sustainability Lead, and how can we support them?

Take the next step in your school’s sustainability journey by exploring the Department for Education’s initiative here - Sustainability leadership and climate action plans in education.

Author

The YPO Team

YPO supplies products and services to a wide range of customers including schools, local authorities, charities, emergency services, public sector and other businesses such as nurseries and care homes. YPO are 100% publicly owned, by 13 local authorities, which means the profits made are returned to public sector customers, delivering even better value for money.