Unveiling the Impact of the Zero Carbon Schools Programme through Multi-Level Research

Green Schools Project
Green Schools Project helps schools to support young people to lead environmental projects such as energy saving and encouraging walking to school, helping to inspire their school and community to go green. It involves them in social action, building their leadership, communication and teamwork skills as well as their confidence and wellbeing.
Project overview for completed projects
Project poster for Robin. Plain text below.

Course Title: MSc Prosperity, People and Planet

Dissertation Title: Implementing Climate Change Education in UK Schools: A Qualitative Exploration with Pupils and Teacher

Community Partner: Green Schools Project

Academic Supervisor: Mara Pinedo Torres

Research Abstract:
The Green Schools Project has created its own climate change curriculum for UK schools in response to the lack of climate change coverage in the national curriculum. They strongly believe that children growing up in a world altered by the climate crisis deserve an education that equips them with the knowledge and tools to respond.

This research explored the realities and possibilities for implementing climate change education, with a particular focus on primary schools. Data was collected through a mixed methods approach involving teacher interviews and student focus groups. The research highlighted the prevalence of structural barriers, the value of ‘community as curriculum,’ the relationship between pedagogy and pupil wellbeing, and the absence of nature-based education.

The findings advocate for pedagogies that are inclusive, practical, and empowering. They underscore the importance of community involvement and co-creation strategies. These approaches can improve accessibility for children from diverse SEN (Special Educational Needs) and socio-economic backgrounds while protecting pupil well-being.

Idea for research
Idea for research
Green Schools Project supports schools to develop projects, we deliver teacher training sessions, and we support schools to reduce their carbon emissions with a focus on the learning opportunities provided by this process. The research project has the aim to understand the impact the program has had in our stakeholders, delving into whether students actively influence others in the community to adopt sustainable behaviors or explore the extent to which climate action initiatives are initiated and sustained in the community surrounding the schools participating in the program.

We expect to conduct in-depth interviews with both pupils and teachers to capture qualitative data that explores their experiences within the Zero Carbon Schools Programme. Integrate, through a quantitative analysis, the baseline and end-point surveys gathered by the organisation, focusing on key metrics such as changes in energy consumption, waste reduction, and overall awareness levels regarding sustainability practices.
Impact of idea
The research will help us test our theory of change and see if we are achieving our intended outcomes, to better understand the impact of the projects, in order to see if any change in the projects is needed and to help Green Schools project to develop community engagement and wider school involvement.
Comments
Area three needs more data and pupils can dedicate time to this area if they want, it can be combined to data from teachers’ interviews to get more reliable information (both quantitative and qualitative) on the impact of Green Schools projects on the community.

If you have any existing data or information you would like included in a project, please tell us what kind of data these are

What new data or information would you like to be collected in this project?

Data generated through this idea

Application process
Application criteria
It could be any subject, but ideally it would be anyone interested in climate education, or community action and engagement.
DBS needed
Yes
Is this project fully accessible to students with the disabilities?
Yes
Disabilities information
Yes, but some travel may be needed for interviews and focus groups.
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