The core objective for applying for this project was to pilot a new approach in bringing about transformational change in schools regarding sustainability education. We aimed for five schools to have each developed an innovation project using the Transformative Sustainability Education model, with stakeholders having increased agency and skills to continue to integrate sustainability education in their schools. In addition, we aimed to bring together the expertise from our two organisations and wider network in order to develop a comprehensive programme for schools called Sustainability Accelerator Programme (SAP) with workshops, coaching and showcasing sessions which enabled schools to have the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes to start placing sustainability at the core of their school’s approach to learning, curriculum and culture. Knowing this is a long-term process, we wanted each school to implement at least one meaningful innovation project going beyond existing marginal initiatives. We also aimed to enthuse and empower the main stakeholders in schools: teachers, students, school leaders and parents to prioritise sustainability and accelerate the process of change.
We applied for this project in order to enable innovationhub.school and Stichting Technotrend to collaborate and bring their combined expertise towards developing a model which accelerates progress in schools with regards to sustainability education. Innovationhub.school had significant experience of bringing about change in the education sector whilst Stichling Technotrend had experience supporting schools in the field of sustainability. Through their partnership with Teachers for Climate, they had a model for transformative sustainability education that we used as a starting framework for our work with the schools. Whilst schools mostly appreciate the need to prioritise sustainability we felt they lacked the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes needed to bring about a sustainable school. Schools embraced the why but lacked clarity in how to go about bringing transformative change with regards to sustainability education. Schools had often focussed on accessible, low impact initiatives recycling campaigns and individual teacher projects, whilst our programme enabled schools with the know-how to start putting sustainability education at the heart of their plans regarding their curriculum, pedagogy and school environment.