Cornwall Climate Change Education

Schools Taking Action

The number of schools calculating their carbon footprint has doubled in the past year. A total of 99 schools have now completed a carbon calculation.

Schools across Cornwall have used the Eco-Schools Count Your Carbon tool to do this. The results help schools understand their emissions, reduce energy use, and identify changes that can save thousands of pounds each year.

By calculating their carbon footprint, schools gain a clear picture of where their emissions come from, including:

• Energy use
• Travel and transport
• Food and catering
• Waste
• Water consumption

The results help schools identify where they can make the biggest difference. Schools can then use this information to create or strengthen their Climate Action Plans and focus on actions that have the greatest impact.

Many schools are already using their carbon data to:

• Reduce energy consumption
• Upgrade lighting
• Improve heating systems
• Install insulation
• Reduce waste
• Encourage sustainable travel

These actions help schools become more environmentally friendly while also reducing running costs. At a time when school budgets are under pressure, saving money on energy and resources means more funding can be spent on supporting pupils and improving school facilities.

Across Cornwall, staff and pupils are working together to reduce emissions and build a more sustainable future. Many schools are also using real-world environmental data to support learning and help young people develop the knowledge and skills they need for the future.

An Keep Britain Tidy representative praised Cornwall's achievement, saying:

"Reaching 99 schools that have completed their carbon calculation is a fantastic achievement. Cornwall is one of the leading counties in the country for school participation in carbon measurement. We are delighted to see so many schools taking this important first step towards reducing their environmental impact."

The Count Your Carbon tool is the UK's first free carbon calculator made for schools. It helps schools understand where their emissions come from and what they can do to reduce them.

Schools that have not yet completed a carbon calculation can still get involved. The process is free and can help schools understand their emissions, cut energy use and identify savings. It also provides a strong starting point for creating or updating a Climate Action Plan.

Schools do not have to do this alone. Free help is available from the Eco-Education Project Manager at climate.education@cornwall.gov.uk who will connect you with a climate adviser. Schools can also get help from their local South West Let's Go Zero Advisor.

Cornwall Council, and Let's Go Zero are working together to help schools measure their carbon and write a Climate Action Plan. This support is free.

Wow!

A Nottinghamshire school has shown how joining Let’s Go Zero can enrich your curriculum, empower your pupils, and even boost your Ofsted rating.

Stanton Vale School has been rated ‘outstanding’ for personal development by Ofsted, and inspectors cited the school’s involvement in Let’s Go Zero as a reason for this achievement.

Ofsted highlighted their success, stating:

“Pupils access a wide set of coherently planned experiences that enrich the curriculum. Through these, pupils are encouraged to become healthy, responsible and active citizens… For example, [they] explore sustainability and complete research through participating in the ‘Let’s Go Zero’ project. As a result, pupils are more aware of their impact on the world around them.”

The school’s Headteacher, Emma Kehoe, said:

“Our school is deeply committed to sustainability and educating our pupils about the impact on our environment. We are delighted that this dedication was recognized in our recent Ofsted inspection. We are immensely grateful for the support from Let’s Go Zero, which has been instrumental across our school and Trust.”

£6,830 saved and 11 tonnes of carbon cut - how a school took control of their energy use

At Let’s Go Zero, we know that tackling energy waste is key to making schools zero carbon and saving money. That’s why our advisors work closely with schools to help them take meaningful action.

Luciana, one of our East of England advisors, recently supported a school that had started some energy-saving efforts but wasn’t consistently reducing consumption. With her guidance, they secured a funded place on Energy Sparks, giving them the tools to track and cut their energy use.

Luciana presented a set of recommendations, which the school committed to, including:

• Regularly monitoring energy use through platforms like Energy Sparks
• Setting the BMS/BEMS appropriately during evenings, weekends, and school holidays
• the site manager has been manually switching off the heating in the extension blocks

The results? Incredible savings in both energy and cost!

• Gas use reduced by 64% during the October half-term and Christmas holidays
• Electricity use cut by 41% over the same period
• 11 tonnes of carbon saved during Christmas 2024, vs. 2023
• £6,830 saved—with energy costs dropping from £10,600 in 2023 to £3,770 in 2024

This is a fantastic example of how small changes can lead to big impacts, for both the planet and school budgets. If your school wants to follow in their footsteps, get in touch and let’s make it happen! - Excerpt from Let's Go Zero, used with permission.

Climate Action At County Hall

Cornwall Council hosted a successful Climate Conference on November 2025, bringing together schools, sustainability leads, and partners including Let’s Go Zero and Education Nature Parks to accelerate climate action across the county.

The event focused on providing practical support for schools and empowering young people to make sustainable choices both at school and at home. Planned in collaboration with ASPIRE Academy Trust, the conference united Aspire sustainability leads, headteachers, senior trust leaders, and other educational settings at Cornwall Council Chamber to finalise Climate Action Plans.

This work supports the Department for Education’s requirement that all educational settings have a nominated sustainability lead and a Climate Action Plan in place by the end of 2025.

Working Together for a Greener Future

The day was designed to provide hands-on guidance and resources to help schools, focusing on:

• Helping schools save energy in their buildings to reduce bills and teaching young people to do the same at home.
• Improving biodiversity on school grounds and encouraging nature-based learning.
• Promoting life skills such as gardening and sustainable food practices.
• Reducing water usage and sharing water-saving tips for schools and homes.
• Managing school waste, including food waste, and involving students in these efforts both at school and at home.
• Teaching young people about flood defence and climate resilience, helping them understand how to protect their communities and prepare for extreme weather.
• Encouraging schools and young people to work with and look after their local communities, fostering collaboration and shared responsibility for sustainability and looking after our community spaces.
• Promoting active travel initiatives such as walking and cycling to reduce emissions and improve health.
• Helping schools to locate resources to teach young people about healthy lifestyles – the importance of exercise and eating healthily.
• Supporting teachers with climate education and wellbeing, including outdoor learning spaces that connect students with nature.

Highlights from Feedback

The response from schools was overwhelmingly positive: 100% of attendees said they felt supported by Cornwall Council and rated the event as useful and inspiring. All respondents expressed interest in attending future climate events, showing strong enthusiasm for continued collaboration. Educators enjoyed, Climate Action Plan Writing, Networking with Colleagues, and the Education Nature Park Workshop where they learn how to map out their school grounds.

What Schools Said

“A fantastic day – very inspiring and full of useful ideas.” - teacher

“All of the sessions were helpful, and we’re excited to take these ideas back to our school.”-headteacher

The event was a fantastic day where educators came together in a safe space to collaborate, share ideas, and develop practical solutions to help their schools and young people take meaningful climate action.

Collaboration Success