Sustainable Schools for All

Sustainability is an issue that is becoming increasingly important for school leaders everywhere, as the government increases its pressure on schools to become Sustainable Schools by 2020.

The Doorways

The DCSF has outlined a series of targets that it would like schools to achieve by this date, and listed them under eight headings termed ‘Doorways.’

The changes that many schools need to make to fulfil the ‘Doorway’ objectives are wide-ranging, and involve changes to policies, buildings and buying practices.

For some school leaders, these changes may seem daunting and expensive, but SCEMES Ltd has created The Handbook of Sustainable Procurement to help schools on their sustainable schools journey.

The Handbook of Sustainable Procurement

The Headteachers and Bursars Handbook of Sustainable Procurement is a directory offering schools a comprehensive list of sustainable suppliers and exists to help schools achieve their sustainable schools targets.

The Handbook was inspired by the government’s Consultation Document, which encouraged schools to make their buildings and practices more sustainable, but failed to offer concrete solutions to the problem of how this could be achieved.

SCEMES realised that Headteachers and Bursars needed a single point of reference that they could turn to for a summary understanding of the issues relating to sustainability and so created the Handbook of Sustainable Procurement to help them along the sustainable schools pathway.

Sustainable Procurement

Procurement is an everyday part of school life, but school leaders can make big steps towards achieving their sustainable schools targets through the procurement of sustainable products, works and services.

The Handbook of Sustainable Procurement exists to help schools make these steps, by putting school leaders in touch with sustainable suppliers.

It contains listings of local and national businesses that supply everything from local farm produce to eco-friendly cleaning products and renewable energy systems to recycling products.

School leaders can simply look through the directory to find eco-friendly product and service providers, and discover how they can switch the products that they use to give their school a greener outlook.

Informative

The Handbook also includes valuable information for school leaders on the sustainable schools initiative, and contains articles from experts within the field of sustainability such as the Sustainable Development Commission’s Commissioner for Education Ann Finlayson.

These articles are accompanied by chapters explaining each of the sustainable schools doorways and offering schools practical advice on ways in which they can implement sustainable policies in their own buildings and grounds.

Free Resource

The Handbook of Sustainable Procurement is circulated to 32,000 schools free of charge every April and is still receiving widespread acclaim from Headteachers, Bursars and Local Authorities.

Katie Sutton, Carbon Management Officer at Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council commented: “I was really impressed with the Handbook of Sustainable Procurement. It’s great to see a guide set out so well, containing so much information and offering practical guidance for schools on each of the sustainable schools doorways.

“It’s very accessible and nicely laid-out, and the supplier directory is excellent too as it gives schools the opportunity to source things locally. A really excellent product!”

ENDS

For more information about the Headteachers and Bursars Handbook of Sustainable Procurement, visit www.scemes.com or contact Helen Gordon, Marketing and Projects Manager, on 01691 680945 / helen@scemes.net