GA Annual Conference 2026

Every education setting in England has been tasked with the development and implementation of a climate action plan. These should focus on the areas of decarbonisation, adaptation and resilience, biodiversity, and climate education and green careers. In this presentation we will explore how teachers and learners at three primary school sites (one a Victorian, one a mid-century and one a modern build) are currently addressing these themes. Our findings show that each setting has its challenges. However, much of the work around sustainability and climate action sits outside of the curriculum, falls to key personnel and focuses narrowly on planting and pollination. We explore how schools can address the requirements of the DfE’s climate action plan by drawing on learners' and teachers' visions of responsive actions that promote collective action and partnership. We will share recommendations and practical solutions that can be directly implemented within school settings in order to make a difference.