Nominate a Sustainability Lead

Why is this an important step in your sustainability journey?

Nominating a Sustainability Lead is a key first step to building your schools capacity to take climate action. The Department for Education’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy requires every education setting to have a designated Sustainability Lead by the end of 2025. 

The role of a Sustainability Lead is to champion climate action, and coordinate the sustainability journey in partnership with the school's leadership team and governors. 

The council is committed to supporting climate champions within schools by working together in delivering the aims of our Sustainability Action Plan. As part of this commitment the council will facilitate connections between local climate champions across different organisations, including schools, faith groups and community organisations.

Who could this be?

Anyone who is a full-time staff member in your education setting that can take the lead on embedding sustainability into the school culture and daily operations. There is no specific set of experience or expertise this role needs; the only requirement is that this individual is interested and proactive in delivering sustainability initiatives, and working collaboratively with other schools. They will also need access to your school's decision makers in order to implement actions. 

What does a Sustainability Lead do?

The Sustainability Lead will be responsible for ensuring your school is taking steps towards becoming more sustainable, including fulfilling the roles and responsibility within the Barnet School Charter. 

Specific actions a Sustainability Lead takes will vary based on individual school requirements, but will likely include:

  • developing your school’s climate action plan
  • researching sustainable actions your school can take
  • getting buy-in from parents and other staff members
  • liaising with other schools and the council to share best practice. 

How the council can support you in taking this step 

The council recommends that Sustainability Leads take part in ongoing training to build their confidence in this role. The council provides free carbon literacy training to support schools.  

The Barnet Sustainability Lead Network has been convened by the council to provide ongoing opportunities for Barnet schools to share best practice between each other. 

Other ways the council can support is through: 

  • Carbon literacy training 
  • Barnet Sustainability Lead network 
  • Barnet Sustainability Lead mentoring 
  • Sustainability governor training in partnership with UCL Climate Action Team

For more information on Sustainability Lead support, or if you would like to support another school by providing mentoring support, email sustainableschools@barnet.gov.uk

Resources and further support