The climate change and environment for schools page aims to support those teachers and school leaders needing information or inspiration around this area to help their school and Cambridgeshire meet their Net Zero targets and improve biodiversity in their local spaces. If you have any ideas or best practice you wish to share, links or information you think would be useful, please contact Gemma Jewell, Climate Change Officer at climate@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
Funding for school climate and biodiversity projects (UK)
- UK primary and secondary schools can apply for grants up to £3000 for projects tacking climate change and biodiversity.
- This funding is provided by the Royal Society's Tomorrow's Climate Scientists Programme, an extension of their Partnership Grants Programme, which aims to engage students in environmental challenges while promoting STEM education.
- To qualify, schools must partner with a STEM professional from academia or industry. The grants are primarily intended to cover the cost of necessary equipment for these projects.
- The application process for the Partnership Grants scheme involves two stages, with the first stage applications due by 11 July 2025.
Free School Resources Exchange marketplace
School Resources Exchange is an online marketplace and community specifically for schools UK wide. Through the service, they are creating a schools’ circular community where schools can “buy – sell – swap“ items directly with each other. The aim is to enable schools to save money on unused equipment – you can either sell it, swap it or gift it, and you can even list items that you are looking for. The service is completely free, and it offers a sustainable solution to the waste that happens in schools. For more information or to register, please visit - School Resources Exchange - SELL | BUY | SWAP (school-resources-exchange.co.uk)
Celebrate Climate Education’s First Anniversary with a Free Taster Membership
Climate Education – the UK’s newest sustainability hub for schools, developed by Peterborough-based charity PECT – has just turned one. To celebrate, it is offering schools and colleges free taster memberships.
Designed by teachers, Climate Education supports the development of Department for Education (DfE) Climate Action Plans. It provides schools with resources across five key sustainability themes: food, natural environment, travel and health, waste, and climate change – aligning closely with both DfE climate priorities and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Membership includes access to a wealth of teaching resources, an interactive Climate Action Plan tool, carbon footprint tracking, and an accreditation pathway. To date, over 19,000 pupils have benefited, with member schools making more than 200 environmental pledges.
The platform also offers optional extras such as outdoor learning sessions, teacher training, and nature-based site development plans.
Schools can find out more and sign up at: www.climateeducation.co.uk
Supporting Schools in Climate Action
As part of Energy System Catapult’s initiative with UK government to support educational institutions in climate action, they have launched the Climate Action Plan: Decarbonisation guide.
Why is this guide important?
The Department for Education has set a goal for every educational institution to have a comprehensive climate action plan by 2025. This guide offers a straightforward roadmap to help you achieve the decarbonisation aspect of your plan.
About the guide
Commissioned by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the guide has been developed by Energy Systems Catapult with support from Ashden – the Climate Change Charity, and Local Partnerships – experts dedicated to helping schools achieve Net Zero.
What you’ll find inside:
- Simple steps: Designed for teachers, estates teams, and governors, the guide breaks down the process of getting to Net Zero into easy-to-follow steps.
- Practical advice: Learn how to conduct building audits, create your decarbonisation plan, and explore funding opportunities.
- Engaging students: Use the climate action plan to engage students with real-world climate issues and inspire the next generation of climate leaders.
Get started now:
Download the Climate Action Plan: Decarbonisation guide.
Additional resources
Access essential guides and tools from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Guidance on this Catapult Energy Systems website. You’ll also find links to the Department for Education’s sustainability portal, Ashden’s Let’s Go Zero campaign, Local Partnerships, and your local Net Zero Hub.
By working together, we can make a positive impact on our environment and inspire communities.
If you have any questions, contact Energy Systems Catapult.
National Education Nature Parks Programme
Want to incorporate nature into your lessons? The National Education Nature Park Programme provides educators with support to integrate climate and nature into children's learning. Children will develop key skills in communication, decision making and creative thinking as well as scientific and digital skills. All schools, nurseries and colleges in England can join for free regardless of outdoor or green space on site. To find out more visit the National Education Nature Parks website.
Ministry of Eco Education free sustainability resources
The Ministry of Eco Education is a charity supporting schools to embed sustainability across their existing curriculum. They have woven together free resources from 100s of organisations and are engaged with more than 3,000 schools across the country. They aim to enable young people to develop the knowledge, values and skills to participate in decisions about the way we do things individually and collectively, both locally and globally, that will improve the quality of life now without damaging the planet for the future. For more information please see the Ministry of Eco Education Information Pack.
Climate Education - an online platform for school sustainability
Created in consultation with teachers and educators, Climate Education is an online platform for schools working on sustainability. It has been specifically developed for a whole-school approach working across five key themes: Zero Waste & Sustainable Living, Carbon & Climate Change, Our Natural Environment, Sustainable Travel, and Local & Sustainable Food. Each theme supports the aspirations of the Department for Education’s Sustainability & Climate Change Strategy and links closely with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Members benefit from free lesson plans, funding updates, news and events, training, and their own interactive action plan.
Climate Education also offers one-off services, including school development plans, tree planting and wildflower creation, and whole-school training.
Find out more here: www.climateeducation.co.uk
Report shares easy wins for Climate Change in secondary education across ALL subjects
A report published by the Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS) reveals there are many opportunities for better climate change education within the current secondary school curriculum in England.
A key finding was that, through supplying teacher support and assessment resources, very rapid improvements can be made to the climate literacy of English school leavers.
GCSE specifications across all subjects and exam boards were reviewed and highlighted how many concepts already taught in schools are relevant to students’ understanding of climate change and its relevance to their future lives and careers.
This report covers the many aspects of climate change that are relevant to subjects like Design and Technology, Art, or English.
Free trees for schools and community groups
- The Woodland Trust are giving away hundreds of thousands of trees to help the UK reach its 2050 carbon net-zero target.
- Schools, nurseries, colleges, universities, outdoor learning centres, and other groups such as resident associations, sports clubs, parish councils, scouts and guides from across the UK are among the organisations eligible to apply for up to 420 saplings to improve their local environment.
- Applications can be made for up to four separate tree packs as long as the total does not exceed 420 trees. The Woodland Trust make two deliveries a year in March and November. They are currently taking applications for tree packs to be delivered in March 2026, with current applications closing in January.
For full information and to apply, please go to Free Trees for Schools and Communities - Woodland Trust
Grants of up to £20,000 to support local climate action
- The National Lottery Community Fund is inviting applications from community-led organisations for its National Lottery Awards for All England - Environment grant programme, with grants of between £300 and £20,000 are available for projects lasting up to two years.
- This funding is aimed at tackling environmental challenges at the local level. It supports projects that enable people to connect with, care for, and protect nature. Projects must deliver benefits for both people and the natural environment.
- Applications are welcomed from constituted voluntary or community organisations, registered charities, charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs), not-for-profit companies, community interest companies (CICs), schools (if the project benefits the wider community), statutory bodies, community sports clubs, and community benefit societies.
- The programme is currently open for applications until Wednesday 17 December 2025, and applications can be submitted at any time, provided they are made at least 16 weeks before the project is due to begin.
- For full information please visit National Lottery Awards for All England – Environment | The National Lottery Community Fund
EV charging scheme for schools and education institutions
- To boost the Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, the government has extended the Workplace Charging Scheme to support state-funded schools and education institutions to install EV chargepoint sockets at their sites.
- Eligible institutions in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland can receive 75% off the cost of purchasing and installing chargepoints, up to a maximum of £2500 per socket and 40 sockets across all sites (this includes any applications made previously through the Workplace Charging Scheme)
- Academy trusts can apply for up to a maximum of 40 sockets for each institution within the academy trust. Independent schools may apply for funding through the Workplace Charging Scheme.
- Successful applicants will receive a voucher valid for 180 days from the date of issue. An authorised installer must complete the installation within this time.
- The closing date for applications is Tuesday 31 March 2026.
- For full information please visit Workplace Charging Scheme for state-funded education institutions
Useful links
Exciting Climate and Nature Action in Education happening locally and open to all schools. This event is in partnership with Climate Education and the Department for Education funded project Climate Ambassadors.
On The Verge Cambridge: On the Verge Cambridge promotes the growing of nectar-rich flowers around the city and includes the School Meadows Programme
Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT) Eco Education
UK Schools Sustainability Network (transform-our-world.org)
Woodland Trust Free Trees for Communities: The Woodland Trust offer free trees to schools and communities. Further information about trees and woodland can be found on the Trees and Woodland page of the Cambridgeshire County Council website, along with information on the Queen's Canopy Project and The Queen's Green Canopy Project Tree Planting Guide. Please ensure you engage the Education Capital Team before planting.
Cambridgeshire County Council Schools Energy Retrofit Programme:
Schools Energy Newsletter
Our newsletter is sent to schools each academic term, and includes:
- The latest news on energy, including industry price forecasts.
- Great tips to reduce energy bills and increase energy efficiency.
- Support to implement other energy conservation measures.
If your school is interested in any of the above information, you can subscribe to the newsletter below.
Cut Your Carbon - Eco Schools (eco-schools.org.uk): In order to learn how to easily Cut your Carbon, complete the short sign-up form to register your school for the November campaign. You will then be e-mailed all of the resources you need to successfully deliver the campaign, including the 9 Challenge Checklist, a Cut Your Carbon assembly, our Teacher Delivery Guide and printable Pupil Certificates. You will also receive further updates about the campaign, including information on our free events and competitions.
‘PLEASE NOTE: Cut Your Carbon 2023/2024 has now finished, but will be returning next academic year’
