Small School on a Big Stage

St Peter’s Primary School has been shining a light on its sustainability and climate education work. Following the school's Eco Schools Green Flag award (distinction) in 2024/25, Mrs Williams, a Year 5/6 class teacher and the school’s geography and climate education leader, was invited to speak at the Westminster Education Forum policy conference, 

"Next steps for climate change and sustainability education in England” held online on 30 April 2026. The Westminster Education Forum brings together senior stakeholders from education, government and industry to help inform policy and support the implementation of reforms. 

The national event brought together policymakers, education leaders and sector experts to explore priorities following the Curriculum and Assessment Review, with a focus on strengthening climate and sustainability education within the national curriculum. As part of the panel, Mrs Williams shared practical experience from both St Peter’s and the Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust from a primary school perspective, demonstrating how climate education can be effectively embedded across the primary curriculum to support pupil understanding, engagement and action. 

Key themes included: 

The importance of whole-school approaches, integrating sustainability across a range of curriculum subjects alongside dedicated climate education lessons 

• Careful curriculum sequencing to build knowledge over time 

• The enthusiasm young people have for learning about the world around them and how to protect it 

The conference also provided opportunities to contribute to wider discussions on strengthening climate education nationally, including improving access to high-quality provision and ensuring consistency across schools. 

Reflecting on the experience, Mrs Williams added, 

 “Speaking at the conference was both a privilege and a valuable opportunity to share the learning already happening in our classrooms, while contributing to an important national conversation. There is a real sense that current curriculum changes offer an exciting opportunity to ensure all children develop the knowledge, skills and motivation to live more sustainably and better understand the challenges facing our planet. We have been able to implement climate education so successfully at St Peter's due to our amazing staff team who have really embraced this area of the curriculum and delivered exciting and engaging lessons to our children. Above all, the aim is to share good practice, collaborate and ensure that every child feels empowered to understand the world around them and how to protect it.” 

At St Peter’s, this work remains firmly rooted in the classroom, where children are encouraged to ask questions, think critically and recognise the difference they can make. By placing pupils at the heart of climate education, St Peter's aims to ensure every child feels informed, empowered and hopeful about their role in creating a more sustainable future.