Eco Schools Useful websites

Leicestershire County Council | General Sites | Subject Sites | District Councils and useful contacts

Sustainable Schools
Information and advice on the national Sustainable Schools framework introduced to implement the national Sustainable Development Strategy and target for all schools to be Sustainable Schools by 2020. It introduces the eight doorways of sustainability with useful links and resources for addressing those doorways. A recent report has cited Eco Schools as the only national award scheme to address all eight doorways. Schools can gain extra points on their Ofsted inspection by demonstrating how they are addressing sustainability issues using the S3 Sustainable Schools Self Evaluation Tool also available to download from the website.

Sustainable Schools East Midlands
This website provides contact details for organsations providing support and resources on the eight doorways of sustainability in the East Midlands and Leicestershire.

National Curriculum
Provides teachers with information on incorporating sustainable development into the national curriculum with topic areas such as Interdependence, Citizenship and Stewardship, Needs and Rights of Future Generations, Diversity/Quality of Life/Sustainable Change/Uncertainty and Precaution. Also includes useful links to other websites.

Young People's Trust for the Environment
This is a charity which aims to increase young people's understanding of the environmental and sustainability issues. A number of factsheets are available on line, along with downloadable publications and activity sheets. This site also includes details of the Livingland Awards project with prizes for schools, a great incentive for environmental education for 7-11 year olds.

Think…Environment
This site is operated by Severn Trent Plc and HTI and provides schools with a tool for carrying out Environmental Assessments, information and links regarding environmental sustainability. There is an overview of six areas:- Energy Use, Air Quality, Biodiversity, Waste Minimisation and Recycling, Water Use and activities for pupils.

People and Planet
Provides information on the UK Student Action Campaign for World Poverty, Human Rights and the Environment.

Teachernet
A government website providing vital news items and information on resources for teachers.

Department for Education and Skills
Website aimed at everyone wishing to learn more about Sustainable Development.

BT Education Programme
This site has been developed in conjunction with the Department for Skills and Education and introduces BT's Citizenship and Communication Education Programme. There is information on introducing Citizenship into the classroom, useful resources, award schemes and links to other useful sites.

Fairtrade Foundation
Find out more about Fairtrade and how it works! Includes an Education Resource Pack with information on how your school can get involved with spreading the Fairtrade message.

Oxfam
This site incorporates information for both teachers and pupils and can help bring Citizenship into the classroom. For teachers, there is a wealth of resources and teaching aids and helps pupils find out all about Oxfam and their latest campaigns!

National Association for Environmental Education
This organisation aims to promote environmental education throughout all sectors of society and ensure all schools have a written environmental education policy. The website contains useful links, publications for sale, and details of conferences.

Eco-Schools
The Eco-Schools programme is a European wide project that works to decrease the impact that schools have on the environment. The Eco-Schools programme enables environmental education to be integrated into the running of the whole school in a flexible and straightforward way. This website will guide you through the whole Eco-school process as well as giving ideas for projects in your school.

CEE
The Council for Environmental Education, is a national umbrella body in England. The Council consists of 76 national organisations with interests in education, the environment and sustainable development.

Citizenship Education
This site provided by the Global Citizenship Consortium is a gateway to teaching ideas, lesson plans, resources, guidelines, whole school projects, advice and training on citizenship education.

Education for Sustainable Development
Guidance from the National Curriculum.

WWF Learning
General information regarding education for sustainable development as well as teaching resources to download or purchase. The teaching and learning section is dedicated to a teacher's professional development and includes contact details for a dedicated officer for further support and advice.

FACE
Farming and Countryside Education provide education on issues surrounding food, farming and the countryside. This website contains teaching resources and curriculum links on science and agriculture, biodiversity, healthy living, history and non-food crop. See resources and teaching sections for information.

English Nature
The nature for schools section of the website contains curriculum linked lesson plans and links to useful websites for both primary and secondary schools with resources designed to engage children in nature conservation

Wildlife Trusts
The national charity dedicated to improving areas for wildlife. No specific teaching resources but lots of information on habitat types and species.

ENCAMS
ENCAMS - Environmental Campaigns runs the Tidy Britain Group and campaigns for a litter-free Britain. This sites highlights litter problems in the UK and provides advice on how to combat the problem.

Waste Watch
Organisation dedicated to raising awareness of recycling and waste management including information on specific materials recycling such as cans, plastic bottles, paper, cardboard and glass and details on the Dustbin Pack, a teaching resource aimed at 7-11 year olds.

Little Rotters
The Little Rotters Composting site is designed specifically for primary schools to provide teachers with practical information and advice to get composting in school

Department for Transport
Follow the links for information for parents, teachers and schools. Very good database for teachers wishing to find other websites and publications and help integrate transport into the classroom.

Campaign for Better Transport
Campaign for Better Transport is an independent national body aiming to raise awareness of sustainable transport. It encourages less use of cars and more use of public transport, bicycles and walking.

Wired for Health
This site is a series of websites managed by the Health Development Agency on behalf of the Department of Health and Department for Education and Skills. It provides information for teachers, pupils and Healthy Schools Co-ordinator.

Leicestershire Food Links
Organisation dedicated to raising awareness of and increasing the selling of Leicestershire food. Organise farmers markets and put food producers directly in touch with consumers. Look out for the Leicestershire Produce Guide within the publications section to find out more about local produce available in your area.

Food in Schools programme
Joint venture between the Department of Health (DH) and the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). A whole range of nutrition-related activities and projects are being developed as part of the programme, to complement and add value to existing healthier food initiatives in schools. See the food in schools toolkit for resources and guidance on issues such as setting up a breakfast club or healthy tuck shop

Energy Saving Trust
This organisation is dedicated to raising awareness of energy efficiency to combat global warming. There is information on how to save energy at home and in the workplace. Find out more about EST new schools project - Energy Certification for Schools which uses a 'whole school' (involving teachers, pupils, parents, governors and non-teaching staff) to educate and make practical changes in schools to save energy. Follow the link for schools investigate this exciting new initiative.

The Carbon Trust
Provides practical advice to organisations wishing to become more energy efficient. Follow links through the service sector pages for information especially for schools.

CREATE
This site has informative schools pages with information for teachers and pupils. They have lots of information and examples of energy saving in schools. The site also contains more general information on environmental issues and transport.

Centre for Sustainable Energy
Find out about their Energy Matters programme for schools which provides curriculum links for Key Stages 1, 2 and 3.

Eco House
Environmentally friendly show home managed by Groundwork Leicester and Leicestershire based in Leicester featuring many energy saving and renewable energy devices. School trips are welcome.

Brocks Hill Environment Centre
The visitor centre has been designed to a high environmental specification with many practical examples which can be used both at home and at school. See education section to arrange a school trip. Please note schools throughout Leicestershire are welcome.

Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre
Provides energy efficiency advice free of charge to householders including a home energy audit.

Beacon Energy
Provides information and advice on all aspects of renewable energy technology. West Beacon Farm and Whittle Hill Farm Buildings, the home of Beacon Energy, is not connected to the national grid. School visits are more than welcome, come and see how energy is produced using hydrogen, wind and solar power.

Rural Energy
A Leicestershire based wood fuels business providing information and advice on all aspects of wood fuel heating including boilers and fuel supply from wood chips to wood pellets. See the case studies for the Orchard Community Primary and Highcliffe Primary School in Birstall who both have biomass boilers in school supplied and fitted by the company.

Sustainable Learning
A whole school approach to managing energy in schools. Pupils can get actively involved in performing energy audits, writing action plans and monitoring energy use to improve energy efficiency in schools. The website also has teaching resources and up to date news items as well as the opportunity to create your own Display Energy Certificate to comply with the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive which comes into force in October 2008 and requires all public buildings over 1000m2 to display a certificate based on an A - G rating similar to that used on some domestic appliances.

Carbon Detectives
This online toolkit helps pupils to understand issues about climate change at home and at school. Pupils can use the website to measure the carbon footprint of their school using a carbon calculator to calculate carbon dioxide emissions based on data collected on energy and water, food and drink, travel and transport, waste and recycling, purchasing and the building and grounds. Results help pupils to explore how the carbon footprint of their school can be reduced ranging from cheap simple measures which change habits to introducing new equipment to the school to reduce energy and water usage. This is a fun, easy to use toolkit which integrates climate change into the curriculum suitable for Key Stage 2 and 3. See Carbon Detectives to find out more and register your school.

Learning through Landscapes
An organisation dedicated to improving schools grounds for education and play.

Wildlife Watch
Wildlife Watch is the junior branch of The Wildlife Trusts. Their aim is to encourage children to engage in their environment and the issues affecting it.

Water in the School
Find out more about saving water in your school. This site is aimed at KS2 and KS3 pupils and their teachers. It includes a water metering project and suggestions for linking water issues to the national curriculum.

Severn Trent Water
Severn Trent water supplies water to Leicestershire. This site includes information for both teachers and pupils on the water cycle and water treatment. Pupils will love following the adventures of the Wet Water Wizard. You can also get in touch with Cropston Reservoir to find out about school trips to Leicestershire's water reservoir.

Be Smart
Severn Trent Water operate the Be Smart Award to encourage schools to use water wisely. Schools receive a certificate and in any given year are entered into a naitonal 'Be Smart School of the Year' award. To enter the award schools carry out a water audit and integrate water conservation, health benefits of drinking water and water issues into the classroom. This site also contains links for teaching resources on water.

Biodiversity/Countryside: Alison Leyshon – Countryside Officer

Email:- al@blaby.gov.uk

Energy efficiency: Contact Leicestershire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre for further advice

Recycling: Linda Wilson – Recycling Officer

Email:- lrw@blaby.gov.uk

Can give advice but does not currently work directly with schools

Biodiversity/Countryside: Mark Graham – Countryside Officer

Email:- Mark.Graham@charnwood.gov.uk

Energy efficiency: Phil Cox – Energy Officer

Provides advice on energy efficiency and grants

Tel. 01509 63 49 38; Email phil.cox@charnwood.gov.uk

Environment/Sustainability: Karl Letten – Change Programme Support Officer (Environment)

Tel. 01509 634505; Email. karl.letten@charnwood.gov.uk

Recycling: Chloe Nicholson – Recycling Supervisor

School visits - recycling lessons and resources

Tel. 01509 634 690, Email:- chloe.nicholson@charnwood.gov.uk

Energy conservation: Graham Ladds, Energy Manager

Tel:- 01858 821 036, Email:- g.ladds@harborough.gov.uk

Recycling: Erin Foster – Recycling Officer

Can provide advice on recycling and school assemblies

Tel:- 01858 82 11 91 Email:- e.foster@harborough.gov.uk

Biodiversity/Countryside: Caroline Lambert - Countryside Officer

Email:- caroline.lambert@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk

Energy conservation: Ben Agabassi - Energy Officer

School visits - assemblies and resources

Email:- ben.agabassi@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk

Environment/Sustainability: Rob Parkinson - Senior Environmental Health Officer

Email:- rob.parkinson@lhinckley-bosworth.gov.uk

Recycling: Kevin Taylor – Recycling Officer

Email:- kevin.taylor@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk

Energy conservation: Contact the customer helpdesk for further information on home energy conservation Tel. 01664 502 502

Recycling: Paul Coates – Recycling Officer

School visits - assemblies and resources

Tel:- 07771 768 4707, Email:- pcoates@melton.gov.uk

Energy conservation: Bruce Birkett – Head of Private Sector Housing able to visit schools in the local area

Tel:- 01530 454 568, Email:- bruce.birkett@nwleicestershire.gov.uk

Recycling: Zoe Evans – Recycling Assistant

School visits – assemblies and individual classes to promote recycling, resource pack available for schools

Tel:- 01530 45 45 72, Email:- zoe.evans@nwleicestershire.gov.uk

Biodiversity/Countryside: Helen Gregory – Countryside and Biodiversity Officer

Can provide advice regarding enhancing biodiversity in school grounds and operate 'save a sapling' scheme where schools can benefit from free saplings for their grounds

Tel:- 257 2651, Email:- helen.gregory@oadby-wigston.gov.uk

Energy conservation: Emily Bennett – Energy Efficiency Advice Officer

Tel:- 0116 288 8961, Email:- emily.bennett@oadby-wigston.gov.uk

Recycling: Reshma Vanza-Adam, Waste Management Officer or Graham Norman, Head of Client Services and Contracts

Tel:- 0116 288 8961, Email:- client.services@oadby-wigston.gov.uk

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Please remember there are lots of useful contacts within the Leicestershire Environmental Education Resources Directory - download a "Word" version of the directory here. If you would like a paper copy of the directory please contact the Environmental Action Assistant on 0116 305 7332.

If you have found any useful websites you can recommend please send details to rsweetland@leics.gov.uk or telephone 0116 305 7332.