Sustainable Hackney – Education for Sustainable Education (EfS) Network -  gave a presentation to the Hackney Primary Headteachers’ January meeting on the urgency of introducing EfS into their schools. 

The presentation was supported at the meeting by Councillor Jon Burke (lead cabinet member for sustainability) who aims to make every Hackney council department function sustainably.

The presentation focused on the need for schools to fill the indefensible void left by other agencies to educate our young people in the causes, consequences and solutions needed to mitigate climate change. 

Pupils today are worried about climate change and about its present and future effects – especially on those happening to children in other parts of the world right now.  If we don’t incorporate issues of sustainability into the curriculum, the day to day life of the school campus and the school community at all stages of education, our children will not be equipped to deal with the inevitable problems to come.

Headteachers took away EfS information packs and some signed up for further support and information on Eco-Schools, the Sustainable Schools Alliance, UNICEF RRSA Award, Fairtrade Schools Award and local groups EcoActive and Green Schools Project.  We need all Hackney Schools to sign up to this initiative, we must not deny our children their right to be educated for planetary sustainability. 

(image- ecoACTIVE)

Hackney Schools have the unique opportunity to become a beacon for Education for Sustainability and set the benchmark for all other local education authorities in the UK.

(image- ecoACTIVE)

Don’t miss out on this critical but exciting programme -  for further information, schools should ensure that their PHSE coordinators attend our presentation at their twilight session on 6^th March and/or contact the EfS network at sustainablehackneyefsnetwork@gmail.com.

By Sandra McLeod