Sustainability and Climate Action at St Dunstan’s

At St Dunstan’s College, we are committed to creating a sustainable future for our pupils, staff, and wider community.  Our Sustainability and Climate Action Plan builds on our 2021 Environmental Policy and sets ambitious goals to reduce our environmental impact while empowering everyone at the College to take meaningful climate action.

Our Focus Areas

We deliver projects across key themes:

• Curriculum & Co-curriculum: embedding environmental learning and climate action across subjects and enrichment.
• Climate & Wellbeing: supporting pupils and staff in addressing climate anxiety and channelling concern into activism.
• Energy & Carbon: retrofitting historic buildings, installing LED lighting, PV panels, and intelligent building systems, and constructing sustainable new facilities such as our BREEAM Excellent STEM block and Sixth Form Centre.
• Waste & Recycling: eliminating single-use plastics, reducing food waste, and promoting reuse.
• Water & Biodiversity: enhancing habitats, wildflower areas, gardens, and wildlife ponds.
• Transport & Travel: encouraging sustainable choices when travelling to and from the College.
• Community & Engagement: partnering with local organisations, hosting workshops, and involving pupils in leadership roles.

Embedding Sustainability in College Life

Sustainability informs our procurement, estates masterplan, staff development, onboarding, appraisals, and wellbeing programmes.   Pupils lead initiatives through the College Parliament, Sustainability Committee, and Eco Society. Annual Planet Mark certification and termly progress reports ensure accountability, while communications celebrate achievements with our community.

Our Progress

We’ve retrofitted historic buildings, achieved BREEAM Excellent for new constructions, increased biodiversity across our sites, removed single-use plastics, and introduced meat-free days.   Students actively promote thrifting, recycling, and positive environmental behaviours.