England has thousands of schools. But many are not making use of grants and ideas to make them more sustainable, which would mean better learning, happier children, a healthier planet and less costs.
The Schools We Need Now looks at how to transform schools into healthy places where students can learn and thrive. Based on decades of research, discover ways to improve school mental health and crisis response, with examples from educators.
Small schools are a good idea (over vast ugly comprehensives) but not always possible in a country of 60 million people.
The End of Education is a book on how to change the status quo. You’ve heard of regenerative farming, well this book is about regenerative teaching! No more a case of just herding children into regimented classrooms to learn their times-tables.
Instead, we can focus on educating children about the natural world, how to live in harmony with one another and how to also live in harmony with the earth and all creatures.
Whereas putting solar panels on roofs can be a long payback for many, schools are in prime position to help the planet both locally and globally. Schools are signing up to qualify for Eco Schools Green Flag, which is good financially too.
Green Teaching is a book on helping teaches to embrace ecological choices and to use nature as the location for learning, to help transform how children are taught. The author draws on international research and case studies to offer ways to transform how children are taught about environment and nature.
Before cooking, read up on food safety for people and pets. If growing food, read our posts on no-dig gardening and safe gardening near pets and wildlife.
Schools That Heal is a book on how to design schools that are less like prisons (designed from fear of truancy and vandalism) and more like nurturing environments for learning and good mental health.
Schools with access to nature, big windows and open campuses are relaxing and improve academic performance. From classroom design to outdoor space, ideas are borne from reducing natural disasters, pandemic isolation (more fresh air) and US school shootings.
Switch to Organic Cotton School Uniforms
Children spend several hours each week in school uniforms, but most brands are with Teflon coatings to make them stainproof and easy-iron.
EcoOutfitters offers natural cotton alternatives that allow skin to breathe, are more comfortable in hot weather and also more suitable for children with eczema.
As they are free from polyester, they also are not supporting the fossil fuel industry. The range includes shirts, skirts, trousers and dresses (both winter pinafore and summer gingham). For socks (which contain a little elastane), launder in a microfiber filters to stop fibres breaking off in machines, and reaching the sea).Where to Buy Vegan School Shoes
Where to Buy Vegan School Shoes
ToeZone offers super-comfy vegan school shoes with memory foam in-socks, cushion padded heels, anti-odour technology and quality materials.
As most vegan shoes are are sold online, get feet measured at a shoe shop (or measure your own feet). If you’re a half-size, it’s best to order the bigger size. Wipe clean. Or if laundering in the machine, use a microfiber filter.
These Brogue vegan school laced shoes are made by Will’s Vegan Shoes, a London company that uses bio-leathers from organic cereal crops grown in Northern Europe, to make breathable and water-resistant shoes that are kind to animals and the planet.
Smart Black Laced Trainers have durable grippy and flexible rubber outsoles, and cushioned insoles made with recycled rubber. Also as Derby Laced School Shoes and Velcro School Shoes or Ballerina School Shoes.
Everything is sent in sustainable packaging, and you can use the company’s return to recycle service, at end of product life.
Biodegradable School Cleaning Supplies
All schools use cleaning supplies in bulk. So switch your school over to biodegradable brands like Bio-D (all their items are available unscented in bulk bottles) or Delphis Eco (which offers more industrial products like drain cleaners and urinal blocks).
Both do far less harm to the planet, and are also safer around children and teachers. Choose unscented where possible, to avoid essential oils near pregnant teachers/parents and allergies/pets/babies.
Where are England’s Most Sustainable Schools?
Downe House (Berkshire) is working to become one of the most environmentally-friendly schools in England. It has won the top eco school award and has its own eco student committee.
It has no plastic bottles, a crisp packet recycling scheme and only uses free-range eggs (and holds Meat Free Mondays for everyone).
Food waste is collected to make into biogas, all lighting is LED, cups are made from bamboo and they plant trees and flowers for bees. Even old uniforms are gifted to help others.
Originally founded in Charles Darwin’s former home in Kent by the 3o-year old ‘Miss Olive Willis’ who had strong ideas on how girls should be educated, today the school focuses on compassion and even helps out at local allotments.
Well-known graduates are TV presenter Clare Balding, Kate Middleton (the Princess of Wales) and comedienne Miranda Hart.
Montessori schools are privately-run and teach in a very different way. Classes have children of different ages who choose what to study (overseen by teachers) rather than regimented rows of desks. ‘Play’ is real (so you would help with a broom to clean, not just pretend).
And it’s interesting that children only begin to use computers at a much later age, yet have the same or better academic records when they graduate. It also saves a fortune on energy bills, and stops children going googly-eyed from computer and phone addiction at a very young age.
Plant-Based Catering for Schools
The Devil’s Kitchen offers plant-based foods for schools, caterers and football clubs (the company was founded by the owner of England’s first vegan football club!)
Made in Gloucestershire, the food is free from all major food allergens (and soy) and sold in compostable and recyclable packs. And contains no air-freighted ingredients. Offerings are all high in protein and include:
- Shiitake mushroom burgers
- Jamaican jerk burgers
- Spicy vegan balls
It’s the law for schools to offer plant-based meals to those who ask, and it’s interesting that despite most African-American and Asian children being lactose-intolerant, the government’s Healthy Start Vouchers (which also offers free fruit and veg) refuses to let parents use the ‘milk’ part to fund dairy alternatives.
Some MPs have complained that offering plant-based meals is harming the livelihoods of farmers. But most ‘junk school food’ comes from big factory-farming brands.
In Sussex, Our Lady of Sion is an independent school that’s partnered with Plant-Based School Kitchens to offer a six-week menu with fresh food (children can bring packed lunches if wished). But most children opt for this food.
Across the pond, California’s MUSE Global School serves plant-based food to children, often grown in raised beds, via a Seed to Table program.
A worrying survey by British Nutrition Foundation found the following disturbing answers amid primary school pupils:
- A third thought cheese was made from plants
- 25% thought fish fingers were from chicken or pigs
- A third of younger children thought pasta & bread were made from meat
- Almost 20% of younger children did not know potatoes grew underground. 10% thought potatoes grew on trees!
Yet nearly all children know that we’re supposed to eat at least ‘five-a-day’ showing that information does get through, if campaigns are run well. But (wrongly), 20% of children thought canned versions don’t count (they do – a can of peas is fine if you can’t find fresh).
Many children also skipped breakfast, often due to poverty. This not only is bad for health, but also means less ‘brain fuel’ as studying.
Years ago, all schools offered cookery classes, but these have fallen by the wayside for state schools. Yet just like first aid and swimming, learning to cook (and budget) are essential skills that should be up there with maths and English.
Learning how to make a meal with fresh ingredients (and knowing how to balance a tiny income) is far more important, than using a protractor to estimate the angle that a triangle goes up against a wall.
Helping Children Who Cannot Afford to Eat
If your child qualifies for free school meals, this kicks in other goodies like the Holiday Activity & Food Program (clubs arts, sports, drama and music) and food vouchers from councils.
If you receive Universal Credit, apply for Healthy Start Vouchers which can be used to buy fresh, frozen or tinned fruits and veggies (or fresh, dried or tinned pulses).
One worrying concern is that the government appears to off-load responsibility to private business. It consults with a fast food restaurant on school meals, and leaves Greggs (that makes tasteless vegan sausage rolls with palm oil) to run many free breakfast clubs.
Did you know that after Jamie Oliver’s campaign, Turkey Twizzlers are back? The Children’s Food Campaign says that the new versions (which are still made with factory-farmed processed meat) are still not good enough.
One former teacher found a boy stealing sweets from the desk. When asked why, he said he nor his sister had eaten for three days. Jack Monroe (food poverty campaigner)
One Tory MP recently said there was ‘not a massive need for food banks, as people cannot cook properly nor budget’.
The basic salary of an MP is £86K. He may be unaware that to use a food bank, you have to supply a letter from your GP or social worker. You can’t just ‘roll in’ and help yourself to donated food.
