Greener Kent Schools spotlight

The Environment and Circular Economy Team at Kent County Council are here to support schools with their green initiatives, their focus on environmental sustainability and what actions schools can take to make a difference through their Greener Kent Schools programme

Landing in your school email inbox soon will be a survey to fill in, let us know what actions you are already taking and who is leading this within your education setting - please take five minutes to complete it. This will help us to build a network of School Sustainability Leads working together to support each other and work towards a Greener Kent.

Don’t know where to get started? Here’s a few ideas...

1. Delve into our Greener Kent Schools wheel (PDF, 1.0 MB) - an interactive tool to use for ideas of which organisations can help you in particular areas.
2. Sign up to Let’s Go Zero - KCC are an official council supporter, and your school could join the more than 60 schools in Kent who have already showed their intent on working together to be zero carbon by 2030.
3. Join in with the Let’s Go Zero Climate Action Countdown - use the free resources to take action every day from Friday 7 June to Friday 5 July or pick and choose a few key actions.
4. Sign up for a free  independent expert from Let’s Go Zero to come and visit your school and help you understand your carbon impact, create a Climate Action Plan and find funding and resources.

Here’s what other schools in Kent are up to...

• Reducing water usage
  Saving water can save you money and South East Water is offering to fix leaks and install efficient water fittings at schools in Ashford for free.
  
  One Ashford primary school has already benefitted from this scheme and will save more than £1,000 over the next 12 months that would be spent on water bills.
  
  If you are interested in benefitting from the scheme, please contact Alessandra Sartori by emailing Alessandra.Sartori@kent.gov.uk), Adaptation Support Officer at Kent County Council. We can then arrange for technicians to carry out the work (they will need access to meters, bathrooms and kitchens on site) and quantify your water and money saved.

• Supporting nature and biodiversity
  St Anthony’s School in Margate was among 26 schools in Kent who were eligible for a DfE funded National Education Nature Park grant to boost biodiversity on their school grounds. They used the grant to clear an unused area and build huge planters for growing vegetables.
  
  Join the National Education Nature Park now to map your school grounds, find out ways of increasing biodiversity and to hear about future funding opportunities.
  
  For an alternative funding opportunity (eight schools in Kent were awarded grants in 2023) - apply for a Bupa Foundation Green Community Grant for up to £2,000 towards outdoor classrooms, forest schools, sensory gardens or similar projects.

• Reducing energy-related carbon emissions
  St James The Great Academy in East Malling sought to reduce energy costs and create a brighter, more inviting learning environment with modern, efficient LED lighting - a project delivered by LASER Energy.
  
  For more information, visit the Laser Energy website for more details and contact the Education Account Manager, Sue Horne at Laser on 01622 942366 or email Sue.Horne@laserenergy.org.uk to see how they can help your school to reduce energy bills and identify the right sustainability solutions.