Church of England schools are a vital part of the Diocese of Bristol’s mission, educating thousands of children and shaping how we care for God’s creation.
Across our diocese, schools make a significant contribution to carbon emissions. On average, a Church of England school emits around 48 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, making schools one of the most important areas for action as we work towards net zero.
At the same time, schools have a powerful opportunity. Through their curriculum, grounds, buildings and daily practices, they can inspire young people to understand their impact on the world and to act as responsible stewards of creation.
Our vision is that every diocesan school:
- Celebrates God as Creator
- Embeds care for creation in learning and worship
- Reduces energy use, carbon emissions and environmental impact
- Improves biodiversity and connection with the natural world
This page brings together practical ways your school can take action, supported by a Climate Action Plan to help guide and sustain your work.
What is a Climate Action Plan?
A Climate Action Plan (CAP) is a simple, structured plan that sets out how your school will reduce its environmental impact and take action on sustainability over time. It brings together work across areas such as energy, solar, biodiversity, travel, waste and the curriculum into one clear approach.
A Climate Action Plan is not about starting from scratch. It helps you to:
- Capture and recognise work your school is already doing
- Identify priorities and next steps
- Bring together different areas of activity into one plan
- Involve staff, pupils, governors and your wider community
- Track progress over time
It provides a clear framework so sustainability becomes manageable, visible and embedded in school life.
How do I get started?
Getting started does not need to be overwhelming. Many schools begin with simple actions such as improving recycling, reducing energy use, or encouraging active travel, and build from there into wider projects such as solar or outdoor learning.
What schools need to do
All schools are expected to have a Climate Action Plan (CAP) in place, in line with the Department for Education's Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy.
The Department for Education expects all education settings to have a Climate Action Plan and a named Sustainability Lead in place by 2025.
Where to start
We recommend Let's Go Zero as a key, free resource and partner to support your school in developing and delivering a Climate Action Plan.
Let's Go Zero works alongside schools to help move from initial ideas to a clear, manageable approach. They can support you to develop a draft Climate Action Plan, based on your current activity, priorities and context, meaning schools are not starting from scratch.
Support is flexible and can include:
- Reviewing your current activity and identifying priorities
- An on-site sustainability audit (typically 2–3 hours)
- Developing a draft Climate Action Plan tailored to your school
- Identifying actions that will have the greatest impact
- Signposting funding and resources
Ongoing support helps schools put their plans into action and embed them across school life. This can include follow-up meetings, regular check-ins, pupil engagement such as assemblies, and input into staff meetings or CPD.
Next steps
All schools are expected to have a Climate Action Plan in place. The Department for Education expectation is that all schools should have a plan and a named Sustainability Lead by 2025. We recommend that schools take the first step by working with Let’s Go Zero, who can support you to develop and implement your Climate Action Plan.
Get in touch
To find out more or get started, contact:
Paula Malone
Let's Go Zero Climate Action Advisor (South West)
+44 20 7096 5639 | https://letsgozero.org/