Sustainability Article Review

Climate Change Education in Worcestershire Schools
Green Teacher: Education for Planet Earth
Fall 2010

Worcestershire is rural area of a population of about 560,000. Increased flooding and other environmental concerns has led the City Council to begin investing in sustainable development.  They have developed a fifteen year plan and believe that small steps will and have helped to create a "connected, strategic and robust support structure".  Educational institutions have been the primary source for all of their current successes.  Their strategies objectives focus on:

• embedding sustainability in all aspects of the school experience
• curriculum development
• building confidence through active participation and involvement
• key processes
• putting schools, nurseries, youth clubs, colleges and the University at the heart of developing sustainable communities
• outdoor learning

The Council assisted schools that wanted to become "Eco Schools".  By July 2010, 65 of the 246 schools have been awarded the Eco Schools Green Flag Award. Worcestershire is now the county with the highest percentage of schools with Green Flags. 

The Council's strategy includes developing one new sustainable curriculum project per academic year.  Additionally they launched the Switch It Off project encouraging businesses, organizations, and households to switch off lights and appliances where they had a 10-20% savings.  This project spearheaded the creation for several other projects including:

• Change Week - a week long initiative for four k-12 schools educating them on climate change and how they can make a difference
• The King and the Draughty Castle - a play that launched an elementary school's Deign adn Technology Week focusing on energy conservation

Through examining these case studies it is apparent that success can be determined even in the smallest of initiatives.  It instigates conversations with the potential of educating more people and inspiring future change.  I agree with their philosophy that education is the key and they do a great job starting with children in elementary school.