Kilnhurst St Thomas Climate Action Plan: 2025-28

In April 2022, the Department for Education released a sustainability and climate change strategy specifically for education. By 2025, all education settings are expected to appoint a sustainability lead and develop a climate action plan. This plan will guide schools in both implementing and educating about various sustainability initiatives.

Our climate action plan has been created collaboratively for sustainability.

Global Awareness – Local Responsibility

Our Commitment to a Sustainable Future at Kilnhurst St Thomas’ CE Primary Academy

At St Thomas’ CE Primary Academy, our Christian vision—“I have come that you may have life in all its fullness” (John 10:10)—guides everything we do. Rooted in our core values of Kindness, Respect, Truthfulness, Hard Work, and Courage, we are passionate about nurturing compassionate and curious individuals who respect and value our world and each other.

Our ethos is deeply rooted in preparing our pupils for a sustainable future while celebrating our local heritage. The belief that we must think globally and act locally is central to our curriculum and culture. Through the lens of “Global Awareness – Local Responsibility,” we empower our children to become responsible stewards of God’s creation, equipped to make a positive impact on the world.

Environmental Education in Action

Respect and care for the environment are integral to our school culture. Surrounded by the natural beauty of our local area, we make full use of outdoor learning experiences to help children connect with and appreciate the world around them. These experiences are not just educational—they are spiritual, nurturing awe, wonder, and gratitude for God’s creation.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are thoughtfully embedded across our curriculum:

SDG 15 – Life on Land: When studying national parks like the Peak District or exploring biomes, children learn about biodiversity and conduct fieldwork to assess how our school grounds support local wildlife.
SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities: In Local Area studies, pupils explore land use and community impact, asking questions like “Is there enough parking in our area?” to understand how we can build more sustainable communities.
SDG 13 – Climate Action and SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation: Through topics like Weather, Seasons, Rivers, and Natural Disasters, students explore climate patterns, water preservation, and the human impact of environmental change.
Global Studies: Topics such as Africa, Asia, and Contrasting Localities; help children understand how different regions adapt to their environments and the importance of sustainable urban planning.
We also celebrate environmental champions like David Attenborough, who inspire our pupils to protect and cherish the Earth.

A Whole-School Commitment

We recognise that the climate crisis is not only an environmental issue but also one that affects children’s mental health and future wellbeing. 

By modelling sustainable practices and embedding environmental responsibility into our curriculum, we aim to:

• Live out our Christian values by showing compassion for creation and courage in facing global challenges.
• Promote wellbeing by helping children feel empowered, hopeful, and connected to the world around them.
• Inspire action by equipping pupils with the knowledge, skills, and faith-driven motivation to care for our planet.

At Kilnhurst St Thomas’, we believe that every child deserves a champion—someone who will never give up on them. We champion our pupils not only in their academic and spiritual growth but also in their journey to become faithful, informed, and courageous caretakers of God’s world.

At Kilnhurst St Thomas’, our Christian vision calls us to live life in all its fullness—in mind, body, heart, and spirit. As a school rooted in compassion, courage, and care for God’s creation, we are committed to making a meaningful difference in the face of the climate crisis.

Our approach to climate action is not just about ticking boxes or meeting targets—it’s about living out our values every day. Whether it’s through the way we teach, the choices we make as a school, or how we care for our environment, we want our children to grow up knowing they can be part of the solution.

A Whole-School Journey

We believe that real change happens when everyone is involved. That’s why our climate journey is one we take together—with pupils, staff, families, governors, and the wider community all playing a part. From planting wildflowers to reducing waste, from learning about global ecosystems to rethinking how we use energy, every small action contributes to a bigger picture.

We’ll continue to build on the strong foundations already in place—our outdoor learning and curriculum links to the Sustainable Development Goals—and we’ll keep listening to the voices of our children, who are often the most passionate advocates for our planet.

Four Areas of Focus

To guide our efforts, we’re focusing on four key areas:

Decarbonisation – making choices that reduce our carbon footprint, like using energy more efficiently and encouraging greener travel.
Adaptation and Resilience – helping our school community prepare for and respond to the effects of climate change, while supporting wellbeing.
Biodiversity – protecting and enhancing the natural world around us, from our school grounds to our local green spaces.
Climate Education and Green Skills – equipping our pupils with the knowledge, curiosity, and confidence to care for the planet now and in the future.
These areas will shape our learning, our projects, and even the way we make decisions as a school.

Keeping Ourselves Accountable

We know that good intentions need to be backed up by action. That’s why our Local School Board and Academy Trust will oversee our climate work,  helping to keep us on track. Staff will be supported with time and training, and key members of the team will lead different strands of the work.

We’ll check in regularly—each term—to reflect on what’s going well and where we can do more. Every year, we’ll set new goals, and every three years, we’ll take a step back to review the whole plan and make sure it still meets the needs of our school and our world.

A Faithful Response to a Global Challenge

At its heart, this is about hope. Hope that our children will grow up in a world where nature is cherished, communities are resilient, and people live in harmony with creation. Hope that by working together, we can be part of something bigger than ourselves.

As a Church of England school, we believe that caring for the Earth is part of our calling. Through our climate work, we are not only preparing children for the future—they are helping to shape it.

Together, we will “Be the best we can be”—for our school, our community, and our planet.