My School My Planet
Through connecting pupils with members of their local community, the My School, My Planet (MSMP) project provides children who typically spend the least time in the natural environment with a valuable opportunity to learn about climate change, soil health, and biodiversity, as well as their cultural heritage.
Working with members of their local community, pupils respond to the impacts of climate change in their area by making meaningful, environmentally friendly changes to their school grounds for the benefit of local wildlife, as well as the wider school community. Through creating cultural maps of their neighbourhood and sharing cultural knowledge amongst families, faith groups, and community gardens, pupils also learn about their own cultural heritage and that of their local community members.
My School, My Planet is currently underway in schools across Walsall and the North West. Find out more or learn about the My School, My Planet pilot project below.
Find out how to get involved with MSMP North West.
MSMP Walsall
Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Swire Charitable Trust, My School, My Planet is currently underway in 16 schools and educational settings across Walsall and the surrounding areas.
Having completed their baseline surveys in January 2023, participating schools and settings are now planning and implementing changes to their school grounds using grant funding awarded through the project. They are working with various local community groups (including mental health groups, Scout groups, and allotment and gardening clubs) to embed these changes.
Delivery of the My School, My Planet project in Walsall will continue into the autumn before a final project celebration in mid-October 2023. Find out more about My School, My Planet Walsall below.
MSMP North West
Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Westminster Foundation, My School, My Planet is currently underway in 16 schools and educational settings across Liverpool and the wider North West.
Participating schools and settings completed their baseline surveys in June 2023. Over the autumn term, project officers will get to know the school grounds better and co-produce plans for change with the pupils. Delivery of the My School, My Planet project across the North West will continue into the spring before a final project celebration in June 2024.
We are currently recruiting for six community groups to support schools and settings in developing their understanding of cultural heritage in relation to biodiversity and climate change from October 2023. If you’d like to get involved, find out more about My School, My Planet North West below or complete an expression of interest form here.
MSMP pilot programme
The My School, My Planet pilot programme supported children from disadvantaged ethnic groups and low-income families to re-engage with learning as pupils transitioned into the new academic year following the first Covid-19 related lockdown.
Participating pupils were offered academic learning focused on three core subjects as a way of engaging them with their outdoor environment and supporting their wellbeing, while encouraging a greater connection to their natural heritage.
Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, this groundbreaking outdoor education programme was delivered in 49 schools providing over 700 hours of support to 1029 children across the UK during their return to school following the first lockdown.
To fully support marginalised and disadvantaged communities, we worked with key partners, including Louder Than Words who embedded a truly unique approach to inclusivity and diversity throughout the project. We also engaged with and listened to the voices of young environmental activists to understand the issues faced by disadvantaged young people. The Centre for Education & Youth (CfEY), a highly-specialist think and action-tank rigorously assessed the pilot programme’s impact.
The findings from the pilot programme went on to inform the development of the My School My Planet project as it exists today. Read the evaluation report in full below.
Evaluation reports
View the full evaluation report from the My School My Planet pilot programme, or view a summary of the findings:
