Sustainability

A Year 9 Class learns about oceanography on a voyage across sea

Year 9 pupils at Sandown High School take a trip on board the research Vessel Callista in which they learn about sea life and oceanography. Pupils get the chance to learn about light penetration and use some of the vessels' equipment, examining the boat's daily catch of fish, squid and plants. Pupils also learn about the tiny creatures that live in the mud on the sea bed, and nourish the food chains in our oceans. As the crew explain that the oceans cover more than 70 per cent of the earth's surface, and hold over nine-tenths of the planet's water. Pupils learn the importance of the ocean and the clues it holds to our history, and our future, many of which remain undiscovered.

A Taste of the Sea

See how California is working to sustain bio-diversity

California is working hard to sustain the range of beautiful and unique animal life within its borders, and San Diego Zoo is at the forefront of these efforts. The zoo, one of the most famous and pioneering in the world, has helped to revolutionised the way such centres work.It has transformed them from tourist attractions into organisations working to sustain endangered species. It has also fostered the idea of keeping animals in open spaces, mimicking their natural habitats, rather than keeping them locked in small cages. The programme also tells of the zoo's collaboration with China to help protect the Giant Panda from extinction, and how the Californian Condor was brought back from the brink of extinction in the late 1980s. Sustainability in California is a series showing the ingenuity and cutting edge technology that California is applying to clean energy, biodiversity and creating sustainable buildings.

Bio-diversity

California lead the way in creating a sustainable environment

This programme highlights two of the outstanding sustainability initiatives from California, which is pushing towards a greener future. The Golden State is at the forefront of developing non-polluting cars, with hydrogen as the potential fuel of the future. The programme also showcases the largest wind turbines installed in the US and reveals why this kind of clean energy is important for the future sustainability of California.

Energy and Recycling

Can a school conserve energy and save money at the same time?

In this episode of Save Money, Bridgid Nzekwu and DfES procurement expert Claire Dicks visit Coopers School in Chiselhurst. The school's energy bills have doubled in the last three years and business manager Sue Whyler isn't sure where to go to find the best deals on oil, gas and electricity. The school has different buildings heated in different ways, some with old and inefficient oil-fired boilers. These boilers should be replaced but there is no money left from the school's capital grant thanks to other, more pressing repairs. Claire organises a visit from Tom Cumberlege of the Carbon Trust who addresses the green agenda and suggests practical ways for a school to save energy. Can Claire come up with a plan which will help the school to conserve energy, and save money?

Energy Costs

The extended services provided by Gospel Oak School

By 2010, the Government wants to see all schools providing an additional range of extended services. In this programme, we look at an example of such provision already demonstrated by Gospel Oak School in north London. The Government's description of extended services includes on-site childcare from 8am to 6pm, outings, parenting support, study support, referrals and community use of schools. At Gospel Oak, there's already an amazing array of clubs, from Albanian language to gardening and cookery. There's also an after-school club, run by Camden Council's Play Service. School manager Susy Penney discusses how it'ss all funded, and reveals the hard work involved in ensuring that everything is sustainable. Headteacher Alan Seymour explains his conviction that the wealth of provision must be child-focused fun that will underpin better learning, never just a response to a government policy.

Extended School

A introduction to globalisation with professors and experts

This programme explores the key concepts of globalisation, with Diane Swift from the Geographical Association explaining its significance. Saskia Sassen is a world-renowned professor who coined the term "global city". She explains how London is a prime site of globalisation and what to look out for in a city. Professor Danny Dorling explains how immigration and migration is central to globalisation, as he specialises in race and equality. Danny and his team map the changing social, political and medical geographies through the innovative Worldmapper project.

Geography

Find out how two schools are working hard to help the environment

Going Green follows two schools where, through dedication and hard work, staff and pupils are finding ways to help the environment. Both schools demonstrate their own unique approaches in "going green". Kingsmead Primary School in Cheshire has been purpose built to be as sustainable as possible. They have adopted an environmental approach that has changed the whole school's ethos. At Dorothy Stringer High School in East Sussex, pupils and staff converted an un-used outbuilding into an "eco-centre" from which, a number of environmental projects are run.

Going Green

 A Head of D&T talks about his projects supporting sustainability 

Head of a large comprehensive school in Birmingham, Kevin Hull talks about how he set up Education for Sustainable Development programmes in his department. Kevin reveals the kind of work he has introduced, including an Eco Bean Cafe project in Year 7, and a Year 10 design project based on the three Rs: reduce, recycle, and reuse. According to the DfES, D&T departments must make sure pupils who go on to become designers in the future, understand the issues around sustainable development, and always think in terms of how the products they make meet social, economic and environmental considerations. Kevin has made it his mission to get his pupils to automatically think about sustainability in all their design and construction activities.

KS3/4 Design and Technology - Sustainability: Leading the Way

Designer Kursty Groves introduces sustainable issues in a school 

Designer Kursty Groves visits Haydon School to help the D&T department come up with some practical ways of introducing sustainable issues into its projects. Head of D&T Caroline Penny, is keen to get her department thinking about sustainable issues, but doesn't know how to go about it, so Kursty is on hand to help. Most D&T teachers are aware that environmental issues have never been more important, and that education for sustainable development is now part of the national curriculum, but many teachers aren't sure how to deal with these issues within their lessons. This programme aims to offer ideas for approach.

KS3/4 Design and Technology - Sustainability: Making a Start

A school changes their curriculum to focus on the Asian tsunami

This programme follows the staff and pupils of Filton High School in Bristol as they revise their regular curriculum for a week and focus all lessons on issues related to the tragic events of the 2004 Asian tsunami. We follow the school through the course of a day to see how they re-focus different subject areas towards raising awareness of how things can be improved in the tsunami's aftermath. This programme highlights how one school reacted quickly to important external events, dramatically rescheduling their activities to help students understand the issues whilst ensuring curriculum related learning still took place. This programme looks at: <ul> <li>Theming whole-school learning around current affairs</li> <li>Encouraging students to empathise with tragedy</li> </ul>

Professional Development for Quality Teaching

Whole school

> Secondary Sustainability