The Park Federation Academy Trust Sustainability Statement

Vision:

Our Trust recognises the need to foster a culture of environmental responsibility and sustainability across all our academies, equipping our children with the knowledge, skills, and values to become informed and active citizens in a changing world, and we will develop school leaders to be ambassadors for the environment; they will aim to gain commitment to action for sustainability. 

Mission:

We are committed to:

• Minimising our environmental impact: By reducing our carbon footprint, conserving resources, and promoting sustainable practices across all our operations. We will work towards achieving carbon neutrality in line with government objectives by reducing our carbon footprint as much as possible.     

• Educating for sustainability: By integrating environmental education into the curriculum, providing opportunities for environmental action, and fostering a deep understanding of sustainability issues amongst our children and the whole school community. 

• Leading by example: By demonstrating best practices in sustainability within our own operations and engaging with our wider community to promote environmental awareness and commitment to action. 

Key Priorities:

• Reduce our carbon emissions: 

  • Transition to renewable energy sources (e.g., solar panels, green tariffs).

  • Improve energy efficiency in our buildings (e.g., LED lighting, insulation, smart thermostats).

  • Reduce reliance on single-use plastics and promote sustainable procurement.

  • Encourage sustainable travel options for staff and children (e.g., cycling, walking, public transport).

  • Provide electrical vehicle charging points to support staff who are making the switch from petrol or diesel cars. 

• Enhance environmental education: 

  • Integrate sustainability into the curriculum.

  • Provide opportunities for outdoor learning and environmental projects utilising learning from recommended programmes such as the National Education Park.

  • Encourage school councils to discuss and become eco-councils in each academy.

  • Raise awareness of environmental issues through assemblies, workshops, and guest speakers. 

  • Build strong partnerships with existing organisations who focus on sustainability e.g. Letsgozero    

• Engage with our community: 

  • Collaborate with local authorities and community groups on environmental projects.

  • Provide staff with training on environmental issues and best practices.

  • Promote sustainable living practices within our local communities.

  • Organise community events and initiatives to raise awareness of environmental issues.

• Monitor and evaluate our progress: 

  • Regularly track and report on our environmental performance.

  • Set sustainability targets and monitor progress towards achieving them.

  • Continuously review and improve our sustainability practices based on data and feedback.

Values:

• Responsibility: We are responsible for our environmental impact and will strive to minimise our carbon footprint.

• Collaboration: We will work together with our academies, contractors, staff, children and communities to achieve our sustainability goals.

• Innovation: We embrace innovative solutions and explore new ways to improve our environmental performance.

• Education: We will prioritise environmental education and empower our children to become responsible global citizens.

The Trust has appointed Board Director Nevin Abraham to have oversight of the progress we make.