College publications about sustainable schools

The journey of sustainable schools - new Read the final findings from the College's sustainable schools project
Sustainability and renewal characteristics of sustainable schools and the key leadership qualities required to develop them.
Every Child's Future: leading the way Jonothan Porritt and David Hopkins stimulate debate around the responsbilities of leaders working with children.
Leading sustainable schools: what the research tells us 2008 report looking at why and how school leaders develop sustainability.
Against the tide: challenges of leading a sustainable school. What are the challenges and how can you overcome them?

Resources

Key challenges

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View a transcript of this video

There are many challenges that schools need to overcome to be able to develop and implement sustainability. The short video clip shows leaders of schools talking about just a few of the main issues. Key challenges include:

finding new and creative ways to help fund the initiatives
providing people with the resources and time they need to support sustainability
articulating a clear vision with clear outcomes
overcoming resistant attitudes and gaining commitment
achieving a shared understanding and a shared sense of purpose and direction
overcoming barriers to progress and maintaining momentum

How to overcome the challenges

Raise awareness among school leaders of the importance of addressing the sustainability agenda.
Articulate the wider benefits of embracing sustainability, such as developing the curriculum and increasing levels of student engagement and participation.
Encourage a holistic, whole-school approach to sustainability.
Establish networks operating within and extending beyond schools, enabling members of schools and local communities to work together on sustainability initiatives.
Raise the status of the sustainability agenda by including it as a major focus in the national curriculum.
Encourage the development of communities of practice in order to address sustainability issues.
Promote the role of students in decision-making about sustainability issues and engage their involvement in sustainable activities.

Read Against the tide:challenges of leading a sustainable school - a report based on the challenges above and the skills and qualities leaders have that help to overcome the barriers.