Following a successful meeting at Hackney’s only Eco-schools’ Green Flag school, Orchard Primary School, several schools signed up to take on the Eco-schools’ programme.  We've been into some of the primary schools to support them on the beginning of their journey. 

An increasing number of schools are now appointing Sustainability Coordinators and pupil/school community Eco-teams to lead the Eco-schools’ programme. We have been to meetings and workshop sessions to initiate the Environmental Review with pupils, plan assemblies and advise coordinators. We also delivered a successful INSET session in September at Ickburgh School who are now on their way to gaining their Bronze Award.

We begin our planned programme of ‘Support & Networking’ Meetings on Thursday 29^th November 2018 from 4.30 – 6pm at Millfields Community School, Hilsea Street, E5 0SH. (See events and below for details).  And at the beginning of the Spring Term, we have been invited to present workshops at a Sustainability INSET Day for the eight primary schools of the Primary Advantage Schools Federation.

A reminder that this month (November) is designated for The Pod’s Switch Off Fortnight (any 2 weeks during the month).  It's a great time to focus on energy use and conservation in your school. (https://jointhepod.org/campaigns/switch-off-fortnight-2018).

Meanwhile, we continue to be available to give free advice on sustainability in schools and the Eco-schools programme and are working on a Hackney Award scheme to recognise the most committed and innovative Eco-schools work in the borough.

With the IPCC’s report warning of the imminent dangers of Climate Change and the urgent need to keep Global Warming within 1.5 degrees C, as well WWF’s Living Planet report documenting alarming species extinctions, it is more important than ever that our children are given the knowledge and means to deal with the inevitable  problems, local and global, that they face both now and in their future.

Remember to follow the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 24) in Poland in December with your pupils and encourage them to campaign and lobby wherever possible.

If you wish to join us, not only to equip our young people with the ability to deal with their future, but to make Hackney a Beacon Borough for Education for Sustainability, please get in touch at –

sustainablehackneyefsnetwork@gmail.com and sign up to the FREE Eco schools programme on https://members.eco-schools.org.uk/register

RSVP to sustainablehackneyefsnetwork@gmail.com