Valuing our future: a toolkit for developing sustainable schools

Children who entered education in September 2007 will be leaving in 2020 to a very different world from this one: a world for which they will need new skills, knowledge and ways of living and working together. In order to prepare young people for this world, schools need to develop sustainability.

Whether you are new to sustainability or already involved in the process, this NCSL sustainability toolkit can help you to develop sustainability. The toolkit was designed with school leaders and evaluated at all stages to ensure it is fit for purpose.

The toolkit includes:

• a Getting Started booklet with a facilitator guide
• an interactive resource with workbooks to help you structure your discussions and action points
• a Why Should We booklet which explains why schools need to act now to become more sustainable eight doorway booklets (based on the DCSF’s Sustainable Schools National Framework) which include case studies and practical tips about how to make your school sustainable

How to use the toolkit

This tool enables school leadership teams to work collectively so that everybody feels a sense of ownership. It will help you to:

• identify different strands of sustainability work already underway in your school
• think strategically about what more can be done in the short-term and longer term to develop sustainability in your school and community
• allocate responsibility for developing action plans

Brian Thomas, Headteacher, Milton Mount Primary School, West Sussex

• Feedback from users of the sustainability toolkit

The Valuing our future toolkit will give you the opportunity to engage with the sustainable schools agenda and make a difference in your school.

How to order

The toolkit, comprising all 11 booklets and the interactive resource, is available to order priced at £15.

Case studies

NCSL has awarded grant funding to a number of schools to develop sustainability. The case studies describe how a selection of these schools have been working towards sustainability.

Further information

Please return to this section of the NCSL website as we will regularly update it and add further information.