This morning, we welcomed back delegates who had attended our first virtual session in November 2025 for the second of GlosGeog/Met Office/Climate Ambassador‘s climate action planning workshop, led by Nichole (Nicki) Schantz, who is the Climate Ambassador SouthWest Hub Manager, and with a guest appearance from Edd Moore, aka eco edd (https://www.linkedin.com/in/edd-moore-a0369b86/). The Department for Education (DfE) now expects all educational settings to have a Sustainability Lead in place and be actively developing a Climate Action Plan (CAP). Sustainability Leads appear to have been appointed by the majority of schools; some are Geography Subject Leaders/Heads of Geography, but most seem to be headteachers, members of the senior leadership team (SLT) or governing body. Whilst climate action planning is well underway in a few establishments, it is something that many are just embarking upon. Nicki and Edd were here to guide us on our journeys. With their knowledge and expertise, we were certainly in very capable hands!
After the usual welcome, introductions and housekeeping, I handed over to Nicki. She began by giving a brief recap of the first session, before outlining today’s focus and providing some insight into the input that Edd would be having.
Next, Nicki posed a question to us: ‘What does a climate-resilient school look like?’. Individuals added their thoughts to the chat feed, which were then shared by myself. Nicki emphasised that it is not just about Net Zero, but that a holistic approach is required and this needs to be dynamic/adaptable.
We spent some time reviewing our draft climate action plans (CAP). Nicki took each of the five areas in turn (leadership; decarbonisation; biodiversity; climate and education and green careers; adaptation and resilience) and we contributed answers to the three questions below by unmuting our microphones. Participants willingly inserted comments into the chat feed too, sharing best practice and providing further support, which was lovely to witness. Whilst it is still early days, there was much positive feedback.
Following a short comfort break, Edd was at the helm. He was so inspirational, telling us about his first-hand experiences, as well as displaying many ideas and contacts/web-links/resources to delve into after the session. Edd is clearly very passionate about nature and sustainability and has achieved lots over time, including a number of prestigious accolades. He is a truly honest and engaging speaker. His key message was to involve everyone as we can all make a small difference and finished with a quote from the highly regarded Jane Goodall.
To conclude, Nicki invited delegates to scan a QR code, which linked to an online form to provide feedback about the last two sessions and where they would like to take things from here. We proposed running a further CPD event during Term 5 or Term 6, but this time in situ and with attendees inviting along three others, whether they be from schools within their MAT, representatives from the local community, business, industry or local council, members of the Governing Body or parents/carers.
A valuable way to spend a gloomy January morning, with individuals making progress with their climate action plans and relishing the opportunity to network with others. Both Nicki and I are looking forward to seeing and hearing about what transpires in delegates’ establishments over the coming months.
Good luck!