Environmental Priorities

 At Godinton Primary School, we believe that caring for our planet is an essential part of educating future generations. As a school community, we are committed to reducing our environmental impact and inspiring our pupils to become responsible global citizens. Sustainability is woven into our practices—from the way we manage our resources to the learning experiences we provide for our children.

Our approach includes:

• Climate Action Plan
  We have developed a clear roadmap to help us work towards a greener future. This plan guides our decisions and ensures we continue to make progress on our environmental journey.
• Sustainable Travel
  We encourage walking, cycling, and other eco-friendly travel options for staff, pupils, and families. By reducing car journeys, we help improve air quality and promote healthier lifestyles. This is outlined within our school travel plan.
• School Grounds for Nature
  Our outdoor spaces are amazing - they help to support biodiversity and provide habitats for wildlife. We want our pupils to experience the joy of nature and understand its importance for a balanced ecosystem.
• Climate Action Crew
  Our Climate Action Crew, made up of enthusiastic and environmentally aware children, plays a vital role in leading and promoting environmental priorities within the school. They help raise awareness, suggest new ideas, and ensure that sustainability remains high profile in our daily practices.
• Recycling and Waste Reduction
  We actively promote recycling across the school and encourage pupils to think carefully about waste. Our goal is to minimize landfill waste and adopt practices that support a circular economy.
• Energy-Efficient Buildings
  We are committed to making our school building as energy efficient as possible.

 Through these initiatives, we are not only reducing our environmental impact but also embedding sustainability into our curriculum and culture. Together, we can make a difference—one step at a time.

Godinton Primary School Climate Action Plan

The Department for Education expects all schools to have a Climate Action Plan by the end of 2025. These plans help schools take practical steps to protect the environment and prepare for the future. Every plan should include actions from four important areas:

1. Decarbonisation
   This means reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Schools can do this by saving energy, switching to efficient lighting, and exploring renewable energy options like solar panels.
2. Adaptation and Resilience
   Climate change brings challenges like hotter classrooms and heavy rain. Schools should take action to reduce the risk of flooding and overheating and to future-proof scarce resources for potential shortages
3. Biodiversity
   Our school grounds are a home for nature! Planting trees, creating wildflower areas, and adding bug hotels or ponds helps wildlife thrive and makes our environment greener.
4. Climate Education and Green Careers
   Teaching children about climate change and sustainability is key. Lessons, projects, and outdoor activities can inspire children to care for the planet and learn skills for future green jobs.

All schools must also have a Sustainability Lead - at Godinton, this is Miss Talbot (Headteacher)

Please click on the link below to view Godinton Primary School’s Climate Action Plan. We will keep you updated on our progress as the year progresses.

Godinton Primary School Travel Plan and Sustainable Travel Initiatives

A school travel plan is a document that sets out a number of practical ways to help reduce the amount of car trips made to a school, encourages more use of public transport, walking, cycling and scooting and to helps to improve safety on the school journey.

The travel plan aims to raise awareness among pupils and parents of the harmful effects of increasing car use on children's health, safety and independence. It highlights the implications of travel choice and the benefits of encouraging more sustainable travel to school.

Please find below our school travel plan which was approved by the Kent Travel Plan team in October 2024 and reviewed in July 2025.

We hope that you will encourage your child to walk, cycle or scooter to school where possible and to join in with school initiatives which promote this such as our WOW campaign organised through the charity Living Streets. Children have the opportunity to collect monthly badges for walking, cycling or scootering to school each week.

Further information about the initiative can be found by clicking here.

Meet Our Climate Action Crew

We are delighted to have a dedicated Climate Action Crew at Godinton, made up of children from Years 2 to 6. They will helping us to develop our environmental priorities at Godinton and have already made a start by helping to further reduce single use plastics in the school and to support recycling initiatives.