October Newsletter

Hello Eco-Coordinators,

Welcome to our October Newsletter. We hope you have had a fantastic start to the new academic year and have taken time to explore our new-look Eco-Schools Portal and our latest resources, including ten brand-new Eco-Projects.

We are thrilled to announce that registration for Cut Your Carbon 2025, our flagship campaign, is now open. Find out more below!

We’ve also included our annual Impact Report, which celebrates your incredible achievements from the previous academic year. Be proud when reading it and thank you for helping create cleaner, greener communities throughout England!

Cut Your Carbon 2025!

Registration for Cut Your Carbon 2025 is officially open, and this year’s campaign is bigger, bolder, and better than ever!

November is Cut Your Carbon month, and we’re challenging young people to take on six fun, practical carbon-cutting activities at home with their families. Our brand-new campaign website makes participation easier than ever, and at the end of the month, you can record your figures and instantly see the estimated carbon savings your school community has created.

This free campaign is simple to deliver, packed with exciting competitions, amazing prizes, and extra online events to keep the momentum going. Register below, download your resources, and get ready to make a real impact!

Eco-Schools Training

Thanks to our ongoing partnership with the Bupa Foundation, we are delighted to offer free Eco-Schools training throughout 2025/26.

This autumn term, sessions focus on introducing the Eco-Schools programme and guiding you through the first three steps of the Eco-Schools or Eco-Schools: Early Years frameworks.

Each session is packed with practical advice and real examples to help you bring pupil-led environmental action to life in your community and tackle the Eco-Schools seven-step framework with confidence.

Impact Report 2024/25

In 2024–25, more nurseries, schools, and colleges applied for a Green Flag than ever before.

At Eco-Schools England, we believe you are never too small to make a big difference. Our annual Impact Report brings this message to life with inspiring quotes and powerful statistics from Green Flag applications. It spotlights a generation that cares deeply about their planet and is actively creating change.

Read it and be proud. You’re part of a movement that is transforming communities and protecting our planet for future generations.

Renewal Reminder

If you achieved a Green Flag last academic year, don’t miss your chance to unlock a 15% discount on your renewal accreditation. Just log in and take action before 31 October.

To secure your discount, simply open an application for this academic year and reach 30 points by midnight on 31 October. You can answer any questions in any order from any section including the bonus sections to hit your target.

Once you have reached 30 points that’s it! Your discount is locked in and no further action is required. We will send an e-mail in early November to confirm that you have activated a discount.

Portal Improvements

We work with local authorities, academy chains, and dioceses to strengthen your environmental efforts. This includes supporting Action Plan activities, highlighting funding opportunities, and aligning Eco-Schools with their wider goals.

To make this easier, we have introduced a new experience for group admins on the Eco-Schools portal. They can now see which settings are engaged, create tailored impact reports, and track progress through the Seven Steps.

Improvements go live on 15 October. If you know anyone responsible for a group of schools, encourage them to get in touch so we can demonstrate how Eco-Schools supports their aims.

What Else is Happening?

• WWF has launched Happy By Nature, a brand new schools programme for primary-aged pupils. It is designed to bring a daily dose of nature into pupils’ lives, sparking curiosity, connection, and care for the natural world. When you register, you will receive a free classroom pack filled with engaging resources. Pupils can collect stamps and stickers as they complete activities and earn a WWF certificate to celebrate their achievements.
• Our friends at Common Seas and Plastic Clever Schools are hosting their International Day of Action on Friday 7 November! On this day, young people can join schools around the world to take part in assemblies, expert talks, and hands-on activities that reduce single use plastics in schools. Celebrate youth action and help create cleaner, healthier futures.
• JUST ONE Tree Day 2025 takes place on 17 October. Join 240,000 young people from schools across the globe for a non-uniform day dedicated to the environment—where every £1 raised plants one tree! With more than 10 million pupils in schools, colleges, and nurseries across the UK, imagine the impact if everyone got involved. Register and help turn small actions into a forest of change.
• Votes for Schools specialises in giving young people a voice. With a new lesson every week, they bring real world events into the classroom, often featuring climate themes and issues. After learning about the topic and debating it, pupils get the chance to vote—and their results are shared with MPs and other decision makers. Check them out below and see how they can enrich your learning.
• If you are in or around London or planning a visit soon, we encourage you to experience the Harvesting Climate Action exhibition, open Monday to Friday until 6 November 2025. Created by award winning artist Ling Tan, this multimedia exhibition blends art, science, technology, and food culture to explore climate action in an inspiring way.
• Do you have apple trees on your school site? Then this story is right up your orchard! Brunswick Community Primary’s dedicated Eco-Committee came up with a brilliant idea to reduce waste, raise funds, and create a tasty treat for their school community. We love their creativity! Read the full story and be inspired!

Keep leading the way in sustainability and make sure your school is signed up for Cut Your Carbon 2025. Let’s cut carbon and create change together!

The Eco-Schools Team