Climate Newsletter

Beckfoot Trust – a Multi-Academy Trust of ten schools which includes primary, secondary and special schools – is working hard to create a greener, cleaner and energy efficient environment for its students and staff.

The Trust has developed an Environmental Strategy and adopted the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. This includes a commitment to a 20 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2023.

Part of this has been a £1m investment in energy conservation measures at six of its schools – Beckfoot Nessfield, Thornton, Priestthorpe, Allerton, Phoenix and Heaton.

This work is nearing completion with the installation of insulation, LED lighting, efficient water heaters and boilers, along with solar PV panels in many of the schools.

These measures will also achieve long term savings for the trust which can be directed into improving outcomes for all its students.

Chris Burland, Operations Manager for Beckfoot Trust, said: “We are grateful for the support of our schools and to a dedicated team across our Trust, external project managers and contractors who have driven this work forward. They have worked sensitively and flexibly over the last year under Covid working conditions.

“We are excited about the opportunities to use these newly installed systems, such as solar PV, to educate and inspire our young people, and the wider community, about the environment, climate change and sustainability as we approach Climate Change Conference of the Parties, COP26, in November this year.”

Six schools in the Trust are also working with Rethink Food, a social enterprise which works to tackle food waste. Rethink Food will be running a series of sessions with students which will include growing their own fresh produce using an aeroponic growing tower.

Environment and climate change will also feature in other learning opportunities at the Trust schools, including a conference for students to share their views on the environment and climate action. The Trust aims to invest further in energy efficiency measures over the coming years.

Pictured above: Solar panels on Beckfoot Heaton Primary School and Nursery.