News Roundup

British Schools ‘must be green by 2020’

School surroundings must become more green, ministers say
Schools must become more “carbon neutral” by 2020 by reducing pollution and encouraging children to walk or cycle from home, the government says.

Education Secretary Alan Johnson also called for lower water and energy use, with some schools in England using solar panels and wind turbines.

He said a government consultation would bring a “win-win situation”, improving pupil behaviour and saving money.

School meals should be made on site to cut transport use, the government says.

Impact of buildings

Mr Johnson said: “Schools are at the heart of their communities and many are already leading the way by encouraging sustainability in different areas of school life by looking at things like efficient use of energy and water.

“I would like to see this replicated in all schools.”

bq. “Young people are keenly aware of, and highly motivated by, environmental issues” — Alan Johnson, education secretary

The consultation - called Sustaining the Future - will run until the end of August, with responses published in the autumn.

Schools will also be asked about the physical impact of buildings and how they can be altered to improve pupil performance and behaviour.

The government says that by 2020 it wants all schools to be “models of energy efficiency and renewable energy” and provide “healthy, local and sustainable food and drink produced or prepared on site”.

They must have “strong commitments to the environment, social responsibility and animal welfare”.

Mr Johnson said: “Young people are keenly aware of, and highly motivated by, environmental issues.

“In many ways they are ahead of adults in their attitudes to recycling and conservation.

“Channelling this enthusiasm helps raise achievement and improve behaviour and could save money as well as addressing big issues such as climate change - it really is a win-win solution.”

The consultation will be followed by the launch of a sustainable development website, which will allow schools to evaluate their environmental performance.