A community of educators empowering students to take climate action
UK Schools Sustainability Network
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"Never before have we needed to join up for the sake of our shared planet more and schools are so key in this. From speaking to the UKSSN at COP26 and online I am aware of the critical need for this forum for students and staff to know they’re not alone, to transform their schools and communities, and amplify the voices of our young people. I can’t think of a better way of supporting the younger generation than joining or sponsoring the UKSSN”
~ George Monbiot
About us
There are now UK regional networks established in Avon, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, London, Mersey, Midlands, Oxford, Somerset and Surrey, with further networks being developed in Beds, Cambs, Chester (led by the zoo), Devon, Essex, Guernsey, Manchester, Norfolk/Suffolk, Northumberland (led by the Council), Scotland, Wiltshire and Yorkshire & Humber. A similar network has also set up in Ireland. The regional networks provide students and staff with a way to connect with peers, share ideas and resources, collaborate on local, national and international initiatives, and develop personal, social and workplace skills.
In spring 2021 the UK Schools Sustainability Network (UKSSN) was formed as an umbrella to bring all these regional networks together. The UKSSN meets a few times per term online to bring student and staff reps together from all the regional networks. They also meet in person for specific projects and activities such as our trip to COP26 and a summer residential. Read more about our recent projects here.
The safeguarding and wellbeing of network pupils is of paramount importance for the regional networks and UKSSN. A rigorous policy, based on the latest Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE) and NSPCC guidance, as well as member schools' own policies, is followed by all staff and students involved. Click here for our current Safeguarding and GDPR policy. Click here to see our Mental Health Charter produced by Jack, Year 13 UKSSN Board Member for Comms and Recruitment.
Most schools in the networks are secondary but students and staff often work on environmental projects with local primaries.
International twinning is also being set up with schools in Bulgaria, Kenya, Korea, Malawi, Nepal and South Africa.
Each regional network has a staff branch to act as a support network for educators from various disciplines and school roles to share resources and ideas. There is a UKSSN staff networking group (with offshoots for school business leaders/operations staff, subject specialists, and for primary and secondary staff) that interacts online and occasionally meets in person for away days around the UK.
In spring 2022 UKSSN appointed a representative board of pupils, staff and alumni from across the regional networks with a majority of pupils. The Board meets twice per term and collaborates online to make decisions about the governance, aims and projects of UKSSN.
The regional networks are run at grassroots level - often centred around a hub school - and the whole network is now hosted and supported by Global Action Plan to enable wider reach.
"The school climate strikers, led by Greta Thunberg, helped change the way the world views climate breakdown and highlighted, especially, its impact on our young people. To me, UKSSN is a great way of carrying that momentum forward. I have been awed and humbled every time I have worked with them." ~ Professor Rupert Read
Our mission statement & aims
In spring 2022 we agreed that our Mission Statement is to make our schools, communities, regions and countries more aware of the climate and nature crises, and ultimately more sustainable, through…
Collaboration and Support
- Bringing together networks of students to connect and collaborate on local, national and international issues they care about, fully supported by school staff
- Deciding collectively which local, national and international campaigns and initiatives to support, bearing in mind our aim of bringing together as many voices as possible
Representation and Inclusivity
- Aiming to be as representative, inclusive and diverse as possible, working proactively to recruit schools, students and staff from under-represented regions, backgrounds and school types
- Holding a constructive and cooperative stance in order to involve as many as possible, in particular those not wishing or unable to join other movements
Education and Empowerment
- Seeking out opportunities and platforms for students and staff to share ideas, views and resources, to influence those with power and to develop personal, social and workplace skills
- Going beyond focusing solely on purely environmental issues and highlighting the fact that the challenges affecting people and planet are interconnected
UKSSN videos
UKSSN Partners
All content © 2023 Global Action Plan, except for partner content which belongs to the linked organisations. Global Action Plan co-ordinates Transform Our World and is a charity registered in England and Wales number 1026148, and in Scotland number SC041260. Tel: 0204 566 9904
Contact
If you would like to know more about Transform Our World, the UK Schools Sustainability Networks or any of our programmes, please get in touch.
Thank you for submitting your enquiry! We are currently receiving a large number of enquiries and are trying our best to get back to people as soon as possible. In the meantime, you might find one of the following links helpful:
- Are you a teacher? Learn about how to use the website here.
- Looking for teaching resources? You can find our collection of highly-rated resources here.
- Looking for something more long-term? Check out our featured programmes here.
- Want to see what other schools have been up to? Have a read of some case studies here.
- Alternatively, take a look at our FAQs and About pages as they might help to answer your question(s).
All the best,
The Transform Our World team