Visit the new website www.sustainableschools-ne.org.uk to find out more

The Regional Strategic Partnership will provide opportunities for school improvement in the North East through Education for Sustainable Development. The partnership will provide support to schools through developing a range of educational programmes, opportunities for curriculum and professional development and regional initiatives.

Our goal is to raise the awareness of Education for Sustainable Development as a means of raising achievment and to improve the skills of teachers, governors and those working to support schools. Schools and their pupils will then be more able to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding that enable them to have well informed values and attitudes to improve the quality of life now without damaging the planet for the future.

Sustainable Schools Framework Consultation

On 15th May 2006 the DfES launched the consultation process for the Sustainable Schools Framework. Click here to read the consultation.

To support the framework the DfES will be launching a new website which amongst other things will include a self evaluation tool for schools linked to the Ofsted SEF.

Leading for the Future

The regional conference for headteachers and senior managers interested in sustainable development. A second conference is planned for 2007, it will be bigger and better than the first so watch this space. To view the presentations click on the banner below.

Regional Programmes

Forest School. The EWE Centre hosted a regional meeting of practitioners and organisations interested in Forest School. This has lead to further discussions with key stakeholders it is hoped this will lead to increased training of practitioners and better working across the region. The Great North Forest are restarting the North East Region Forest Education Initiative (FEI) cluster. It is hoped this will help to increase capacity to support schools in the region and link to the group already established in Tees Valley.

A meeting held with the North East Community Forest and the Forestry Commission was very positive and they have gone away to have further high level discussions which should lead to some interesting developments over the coming months.

Eco-Schools. The EWE Centre has convened a number of meetings of key Eco-Schools practitioners and supporting organisations. Sessions have been run on how Eco-Schools impacts upon:

Every Child Matters

Global Perspective/ Dimension

The recently revamped Eco-Schools website is now available at www.eco-schools.org.uk

A Regional Forum for Sustainability and Environment Practitoners has also started to get together, two meetings have taken place, one in Newcastle and one in Durham, it is hoped the next will be in Tees Valley.

Please visit the Growing Schools website for information on all matters relating to outdoor Learning. More information at www.teachernet.gov.uk/growingschools

Useful ESD Websites

ESD Toolkit www.esdtoolkit.org/

DfID Site www.globaldimension.org.uk

DfES Teachenet SD Pages http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/sd/

DfES Sustainabel Schools Site http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/sustainableschools

Dept of Transport Resources Database http://www.databases.dft.gov.uk/schools/

DTI Renewables for Schools http://www.dti.gov.uk

Eco-Schools www.eco-schools.org.uk

Global Gateway www.globalgateway.org.uk/

Growing Schools www.teachernet.gov.uk/growingschools

National Curriculum Site www.nc.uk.net/esd

North West Assembly ESD Site www.actionforsustainability.org

UK Government Site www.sustainable-development.gov.uk

UNESCO Website www.unesco.org/education/tlsf/index.htm

United Nations ESD Decade site www.unesco.org/education

Yorkshire & Humber ESD Forum www.yorkshireandhumber.net/esd