From prom shop to polytunnel: sustaining eco-activity in school

‘Things don't happen overnight... You've got to be in this for the long haul.’ 

Drawing on her 15 years’ experience as a school sustainability director, Wendy Litherland shares lessons learned in getting staff, pupils, governors and community members engaged in eco-action. How do you sustain impact and bring people together? Wendy talks about:

• Why making friends with the caretaker is your first priority
• Building bridges with the cleaners by minding muddy feet
• Learning from the wealth of experience in the PTA (as well as fundraising with them)
• Getting from jumble sale vibes to a popular prom shop
• The impact of a hot drink when you’re sleeping rough
• Teaching children for jobs that don’t exist yet
• How solar panels can be a learning resource, before they’re even installed. 

Wendy Litherland combines her role as Associate Assistant Headteacher and Director of Sustainability at Accrington St Christopher’s CE High School with being Head of Education at Solar for Schools. She is a long-term eco-champion and co-facilitator of the Sustainability Learning Conference North West.

Liz Worthen’s career in education spans teaching, training, commissioning and programme development. Creating Value in Schools is all about working sustainably: taking care of people, planet and resources to secure better outcomes for children and communities. 

• What is a circular economy? https://createvalueschools.com/need-to-know/what-is-a-circular-economy
• Download 10 tips for school climate activities: https://createvalueschools.com/need-to-know/10-tips-for-integrating-climate-activities
• How green is your school: https://createvalueschools.com/need-to-know/how-green-is-your-school
• Check your school’s solar viability: https://www.solarforschools.co.uk/
• School example: https://www.solarforschools.co.uk/schools/accrington-st-christophers-church-of-england-high-school-bb5-4ay-137421
• Education support from Solar for Schools: https://education.solarforschools.co.uk/
• Wendy’s eco-group on X: https://x.com/Eco_Group
• Find recommended reads in the Creating Value in Schools bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/createvalueschools
• Join the Creating Value in Schools community: https://createvalueschools.com/subscribe/

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