School Policies: Sustainable Development Policy October 2008
NORHAM COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE
SUSTAINABILITY POLICY
Sustainable development is essential to ensure quality of life without damaging the planet for the
future. This requires a balance between economic prosperity, social equity and care for the
environment.
Norham Community Technology College is acutely aware of its responsibility to promote and
practise sustainable development and this approach is reflected in our school vision: Care and respect for ourselves, others and the environment.
 Co-operation between school, home and community.
 Consistency and fairness in our values and expectations.
 Challenge and support for all to reach their potential.
Our Objectives
 To encourage our students to care for themselves (their health and well-being), for each
other and for the environment.
 To challenge our students to use their individual talents so that they can contribute to the
economic prosperity of their local community, the country and the global environment.
 To promote and practice the principles of social equity both in school and through our links
with local, national and global communities.
 To empower our students to lead sustainable lives through educating them in sustainable
behaviours.
 To share responsibility with the wider community for promoting and practising policies which
show concern and care for the future of the global environment.
Methods
We will endeavour to address issues of global sustainability across all areas of school life.
Inclusion and Participation
As part of our commitment to the ‘Every Child Matters’ Agenda, our students are encouraged to
participate in decision making through a curriculum delivery emphasising skills development and
through such bodies as the Environflippin’mental Group and the School Council. We encourage
them to feel confident about finding solutions and to enjoy making positive contributions to society.
Issues such as discrimination, equality of opportunity, citizenship, cultural and spiritual awareness
and care for the environment are consistent themes for all students to engage in.
The Global Dimension work within the school allows students to develop a sense of awareness of
equality and global responsibilities. We are committed to Fair Trade, the Global Campaign for
Education and Comenius projects and endeavour to strengthen our students’ role within the
international community. We are working towards the International School Award and Fair Trade
School Status.
We recognise the need to encompass the five ‘R’s – Reject, Refuse, Reduce, Re-use, Recycle –
and this allows us to inform our Sustainability Policy.
Litter and Recycling
We recognise that litter and recycling are closely aligned. We attempt to recycle wherever possible,
thereby reducing the need to use the bins for items which can be recycled. We have installed
Recycling bins for paper in every classroom, and have installed Recycling bins for cans and plastic
bottles in key areas of the school, both inside and outside. All staff and students are encouraged to
follow the five ‘R’s and to use recycling bins instead of using waste bins. There is also a central
recycling point for inkjet cartridges, as well as the provision of facilities at set times across a year for
recycling clothing and mobile phones. Recyclable paper, plastic and cans are collected weekly by
North Tyneside Council.
Where waste is not suitable for recycling – food packaging, for example – staff and students are
encouraged to use the many bins around the school site. Dropping of litter is not acceptable and all
staff and students are made aware of and understand this. There is a system of reward and
sanction to encourage responsible disposal of litter. This is also supported by regular litter picks in
the school grounds – as well as around the local community – to keep litter to an absolute minimum.
Assisting with a litter pick is encouraged as a positive community action and is rewarded; it is not
considered as a sanction.
The design of the school site, coupled with litter blowing in on the prevailing winds, mean that litter
does become trapped on the eastern fences of the school yard and field but this is regularly
removed by students, staff and council wardens working together.
Food and Drink
We acknowledge that better catering helps to improve student and staff health, concentration and
learning outcomes.
In line with our School Food Policy, all food and drink offered to students, staff and visitors are
nutritionally healthy and in line with Government Guidelines.
We aim to develop our students’ understanding of the journey our food makes and to make informed
decisions as consumers. The Fair Trade Focus Days and our links with Trade Craft achieve these
aims.
Energy and Water
As a school working towards ‘Eco School’ status, we are conscious of the need to conserve energy
and water and we monitor energy use and develop ways of reducing consumption. We have
introduce ‘Climate Change Champions’ to help reduce our energy use by turning off lights and
equipment, closing windows in the cold, and opening them to provide ventilation in the warm. Where
buildings have been updated, energy saving has been incorporated with double glazing and
insulation, and ‘push-on’ taps, low-flush cisterns and PIR-controlled urinals have been introduced to
conserve water.
Under the BSF programme, we intend to build in water conservation through ‘green-roof’ technology
and using grey water.
Renewable Energy
We are conscious of the need to develop our own forms of energy and have recently purchased a
wind turbine and solar panel to provide electricity and to educate our students about renewable
power generation.
Under the BSF programme, we intend to incorporate as much use of renewable energy into the
new-build as is practically possible, harnessing the natural resources such as wind in our area of the
country.
Travel and Traffic
The School’s Travel Plan promotes walking and cycling to school. Our Travel Plan is regularly
reviewed in light of the needs of staff and students and recommendations implemented with the full
support of North Tyneside Council. An example of its impact is the storage facilities for bicycles in
college. Greener travel contributes towards safety, fitness and alertness of our students and also
reduces emission levels and congestion.
Purchasing and Waste (Waste Minimisation)
The school ethos is one of reusing and recycling whenever possible and we have a policy of only
printing when necessary. Staff and students are encouraged to use electronic, paperless forms of
communication. When purchasing materials, staff are encouraged to explore purchasing recycled
materials where this is possible and an economic option. Staff and students are encouraged to
switch off equipment and lights when not in use, actively supported by the Climate Change
Champions, and, wherever possible, we will reuse or dispose of old equipment in an ecologically
sound way. When sending written information to parents, staff are encouraged to use both sides of
paper for longer pieces of information and use smaller notepaper for short pieces of information.
Staff and students are encouraged to only print or photocopy where necessary, to use both sides of
the paper, and to only use such quantities as are immediately required.
Buildings and Grounds
The school was built in the 1970s when sustainability was not a consideration. We are delighted to
be in Wave 6a of BSF and have made a commitment to ensure that sustainability will be a major
feature of our work under the BSF programme. Where buildings have been updated, sustainability
has been incorporated with double glazing, ‘push-on’ taps, low-flush cisterns, PIR-controlled urinals.
Local Well–Being
Through engaging with parents, local businesses, schools and community groups, we regularly
provide activities such as Environment Focus Days and an annual Sustainability Week, raising
awareness of sustainability issues and working to minimise their impact in the local and school
community.
Global Dimension
As a school, we actively participate in many activities linking us to the wider world. An example of
this is the Comenius project which involves seven schools from five European countries and which
is looking at renewable energy across Europe. We have funded the building of deep bore wells and
updating a school in Eritrea, Africa. Our students have represented their school at Youth Parliament
Children’s Conferences, speaking on environmental issues. We are in the process of applying for
the full International School’s Award.
We will continue to extend this ethos of sustainability throughout the school in our determination to
move towards a healthier, safer, more inclusive and equitable society and to encourage our
students to become ambassadors for sustainability in the wider community.
We have applied for Fair Trade status and include Fair Trade into our Sustainability and Humanities
teaching. The school has also a Fair Trade Policy.
Monitoring and Reviewing
The Policy for Sustainability forms part of the School Improvement Plan and will be reviewed
annually by the School Leadership Team and Governing Body. Monitoring progress towards our
objectives is the responsibility of all curriculum teams and is an integral part of our work.
Appendices
Norham Community Technology College Biodiversity Action Plan (2009).