Apply to be a
Climate School 180
Climate School 180
Through effective professional development and support to overcome barriers to change, Climate School 180 aims to inspire and deliver a quality climate change education to all children and young people.
The project seeks to address school needs around culture, curriculum and pedagogy, and prioritise challenges around climate justice and equity. We will partner with 180 schools, and for many this will be a 180° turn around in how climate change education is approached and delivered.
As a Climate School 180 partner school, you will share our ambition to develop constructive hope through equipping children and young people with the knowledge and skills necessary to actively participate in and advocate for positive changes in relation to climate change. You will have the support of a cohort of colleagues (‘the influencers’), including the headteacher, who will be passionate about the need for quality climate change education. Your school will also have an outdoor space which can be used for learning and adaptation to our changing climate.
Apply to be a Climate School 180 partner school
What does the project involve?
The project will include: Â
- An initial 3-hour online training programme for the cohort of participating staff (the ‘influencers’) on Thinkific.Â
- A 1–2-hour climate impact and adaptation audit of your school grounds.Â
- A 3–4-hour in-service workshop in school for the cohort of staff.
- A follow-up online meeting to discuss progress.Â
After our initial support, you will independently take forward the project with the support of LtL through:Â
- Developing your Climate School 180 pledge to embed climate change education and plan school grounds improvements in your school.Â
- A suite of resources to support your development of climate change curriculum and training for colleagues. Â
- A suite of resources to guide practical adaptations to your school grounds.Â
- Sharing experiences, challenges, successes and learning with other schools through participation in our online community on Thinkific.Â
Outcomes
Following the initial programme we expect schools to develop a whole-school approach to climate change education and/or have climate change education on your school development plan within one academic year. This will likely include wider staff training, knowledge building, co-construction of curriculum and learning experiences, practical adaptation of your school grounds, and an intention to share your learning with other schools.Â
Your commitment
- Your school engages fully with the training and support programme, requiring a core cohort of school staff to engage. The core cohort (‘the influencers’) will likely include at least one senior manager and a selection of teaching staff across stages and curricular responsibilities. Â
- The in-person workshop is delivered as a single session of at least 3 hours, in combination with a School Grounds Climate Audit (1-2-hours), on a mutually agreed date within 2 academic terms of a successful application.Â
- The cohort of staff complete the online training before the in-person workshop. Â
- You will agree to submit feedback as part of the programme evaluation with Stirling University and Learning through Landscapes.Â
Timetable for Applications
We have four rounds of applications. There will be a shortlisting process followed by phone call or Teams discussion with your headteacher. Schools who are successful will be notified three weeks after applications close (school holidays notwithstanding).Â
We are looking for 180 schools to partner with. The application dates are as follows:
 Round | Applications open | Applications close | Delivery period |  |
1 | Complete | Complete | Autumn term 2024 – Spring term 2025 | |
2Â | 19 August 2024Â | 25 October 2024Â | Spring term 2025 – Summer term 2025 | |
3Â | 13 January 2025Â | 21 February 2025Â | Summer term 2025 – Autumn term 2025Â | |
4Â | 2 April 2025Â | 9 May 2025Â | Autumn term 2025 – Spring term 2026 |
Apply to Climate School 180
Please be as honest as possible on your application. Â
We are not seeking schools who necessarily have excellent practice in climate change education or who have amazing green grounds. We are seeking schools who have a motivation to develop their practice and curriculum, who have opportunity with the whole school community, and who have support from the headteacher. Please demonstrate this in your application.Â
We are also seeking a range of schools in terms of size, geographic location, age/stage. Applications are open to all Northern Irish, Welsh, Scottish and English schools with state funding. We will prioritise applications from schools who are disadvantaged or serve communities most affected by climate change.Â
All shortlisted applications will be discussed with the headteacher, or appropriate member of senior management team, as part of our process of diligence and selection.
If you wish to apply on behalf of a group of schools from a MAT, Local Authority or Diocese, please call or email us direct for a discussion – 01786 465 934 or climate180@ltl.org.uk and ask for Lesley or Matt.