Cranbourne Primary School – Our Commitment to Sustainability

At Cranbourne Primary School, sustainability is a key focus within our School Development and Improvement Plan (SDIP). We are dedicated to weaving environmental responsibility into our teaching, daily practices, and long-term goals.

As an integral part of our local community, we believe it’s important to lead by example and help our pupils understand how their actions can protect the planet.

We’re proud to be part of the Let’s Go Zero campaign, working towards becoming a carbon zero school by 2030, and to work with The Climate Ambassadors programme to further inspire and empower our pupils to take action for the environment. By joining these initiatives, Cranbourne Primary stands with schools across the UK in building a greener, more sustainable future for everyone.

Our sustainability actions to date:

• Climate Action Planning: We have worked with a Let’s Go Zero Climate Action Advisor and a Climate Ambassador to develop a Climate Action Plan for 2025–2026, highlighting our priorities for the coming year.

• Energy Efficiency: Begun switching interior lighting to LEDs and installed PIR sensors so lights automatically turn off, reducing electricity usage.

• Waste Management: Reviewed Suez food waste collection to monitor impact and ensure recycling collections are effective.

• Awareness and Engagement: Delivered assemblies to raise awareness of climate action and sustainability among pupils.

• Biodiversity and Outdoor Learning:

  • Participated in No Mow May to support local pollinators.

  • Maintained a School Garden where pupils grow plants and vegetables.

  • Developed The Nook, an outdoor learning and quiet space.

  • Built a bug hotel and installed bat boxes in trees.

  • Set up birdhouses and bird boxes.

  • Created a wildlife pond in the new nature area.

• Community Engagement: Participated in the annual Royal Windsor Flower Show wheelbarrow competition.

• Pupil-Led Initiatives: Run a litter picking club to promote environmental responsibility.

Our future sustainability plans:

• Carbon and Energy Initiatives:

  • Complete a ‘Count Your Carbon’ assessment to measure and reduce our carbon footprint.

  • Review and optimise energy tariffs to improve efficiency.

  • Launch the TerraCycle Recycling Program.

  • Implement an Energy Detectives programme to encourage pupils to identify energy-saving opportunities.

• Climate and Environmental Planning:

  • Complete a Climate Risk Assessment to inform future sustainability decisions.

  • Design and install a Living Wall to enhance biodiversity and air quality.

  • Plant additional trees across the school grounds.

• Nature and Biodiversity Projects:

  • Join the National Education Nature Park initiative and actively engage with its resources and activities.

  • Allocate specific areas of the school grounds to ‘go wild’ and support natural habitats.

  • Implement the Hedgehog Friendly School initiative to protect local wildlife.

• Pupil Engagement and Leadership:

  • Establish an Eco-Club / Eco Warriors group to lead sustainability projects and campaigns across the school.