ASCL Sustainability Conference 2025

ASCL PD reserves the right to change the programme as circumstances dictate. 
 

Suitable for business leaders (including director of estates and sustainability leaders), CEOs, headteachers, senior leaders, trustees and governors.

11.00 Workshop Session 1

Education and Curriculum  
Delivered by students from Tytherington School, supported by SOS-UK
Join us as we explore the youth perspective on climate change, climate justice, climate anxiety, and climate education. In this interactive workshop you will be able to hear directly from young people about their views on climate education and the simple yet impactful ways you can bring climate into your classroom no matter what subject you teach

Operations and Decarbonisation: Energy Freedom with Solar PV – How we did it 
Rob Gould FRCIS, Partner, Barker
Gemma Tunstall, CFO Wellington School and Co-Chair UKSSN Ops Group
This session will explore the transformative potential of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology in schools, focusing on achieving energy independence and sustainability. Gemma Tunstall will share a practical case study from Wellington School, highlighting her approach, challenges faced, and lessons learned. Rob Gould will provide an in-depth look at the importance of solar PV for schools, covering the critical aspects of design and procurement. The session will conclude with a Q&A segment, offering delegates the opportunity to engage directly with the speakers.

DfE Support Programmes: Getting started with your Climate Action Plan 
Andrew Charlton-Perez, Professor of Meteorology and Head of School, University of Reading
Alex Green, Head of Schools for Ashden and Let’s Go Zero
Alex Seal, Climate Action Specialist, Ashden

The Department for Education Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy was first published in April 2022. This session will reflect on the DfE’s expectations of schools and trusts in regards to sustainability and climate action:

• What are the threats and the opportunities of climate action
• Understand the support services and networks available to schools as well as the emerging best practice in the development of a School or Trust Climate Action Plan 
• What practical next steps schools can start to take or progress their Climate Action Plan

15.05 Workshop Session 2

Education and Curriculum: Embedding climate change and sustainability across the whole school curriculum 
Dr Alison Kitson, Co-Founder and Programme Director, UCL Centre for Climate Change and
Sustainability Education
What is the role of all teachers and all subjects in responding to the climate and nature crisis and preparing our young people to lead more sustainable lives?  In the current curriculum, geography and science have a role to play.  However, this workshop will explore the many opportunities to build on this throughout the curriculum in ways that are empowering and engaging for young people.  This is not about overwhelming young people but about demonstrating, in much of what they learn, that humans and nature are not separate from each other.  Approaches can be as simple as the images shown in a lesson or as ambitious as a cross-subject project to explore the future of sustainable cities.
Drawing on UCL’s flagship programme of free, research-informed professional development for teachers, the workshop will showcase examples of what a whole-curriculum response can look like in primary and secondary schools and explore different ways to take this work forwards in schools.
 
Operations and Decarbonisation: Growing Change: Climate action through school food
Russell Abbey, Head of Catering Services, HEART Academies Trust
Cozzi Baring, Head of Marketing, Food Waste Heroes Programme, Olio
Polly Higginson, School Plates Programme Coordinator, ProVeg

Heart Academies Trust will begin the session sharing their sustainability journey in school meals across the trust.  Pro Veg will then share information about their School Plates programme and offer practical steps for creating sustainable school menus, advise on the impact of plant-rich meals and how simple changes can drive more climate-friendly and healthier choices.  Finally, Olio will conclude the session sharing how schools can reduce food waste by sharing spare food to support the local community 

Your journey through biodiversity improvement and climate action  
Sam Hartley, Senior Programmes and Partnerships Manager, National Education Nature Park
Emily Brunton, Sustainability Lead, United Learning Trust

Join this session to look at how to use National Education Nature Park and Sustainability support for Education tools to help you on your journey to youth-led biodiversity improvements and step by step climate action recommendations.  
In this session you will:

• Gain an understanding of the context of climate action and the Department for Education projects available to support all settings
• Understand the best practice journey to improve biodiversity and climate action in your settings
• Understand where you currently are on this journey and how to take the next steps

• Standard rate: £245+VAT (ASCL members) or £265+VAT (non-members)
• 10% discount for groups of two or more

Visit the following exhibitors at the conference