September Newsletter
Hi Eco-Coordinators,
Welcome back! We hope you had a fantastic summer break and are feeling relaxed, refreshed, and ready to help pupils lead positive environmental change in 2025/26.
Before we dive into our first newsletter of the new academic year, we want to say a huge congratulations to everyone who achieved an Eco-Schools Green Flag in 2025. It was a record-breaking year in England, with well over a million young people taking part in planet-protecting activities, all supported by inspiring educators like you.
Together, we’re part of a powerful, youth-led environmental movement. Let’s keep the momentum going and see what change we can inspire in the year ahead!
Coming up in 2025/26!
This year brings new resources, inspiring ideas, and Eco-Schools initiatives to support your pupils in leading environmental change, here’s what’s coming your way:
New Year, New Look!
When you log in to your Eco-Schools account, you’ll notice our interface has had a glow-up, with a cleaner, clearer design to help you navigate with ease. You’ll also find handy new video guides available for each of the Eco-Schools and Eco-Schools: Early Years Seven Steps, making it even easier to get started or support your young people through the process. Don’t worry, functionality remains the same and is just as easy to use as ever!
Eco-Projects Are Here!
As always, all Eco-Schools resources have been refreshed and updated for the new academic year, but that’s not all! We’re thrilled to introduce ten brand-new Eco-Project Guides: ready-to-go project ideas created by the Eco-Schools Team, complete with delivery steps background information, information about related Green Careers and the skills young people will develop when they take on the project!
Cut Your Carbon Returns!
November is Cut Your Carbon Month, and we’ve got exciting updates for 2025! This year brings new challenges, more murals to be won, and an all-new Cut Your Carbon website, built to help you track your school’s carbon savings and showcase the positive impact your community is making. Best of all, the campaign remains as easy to deliver as ever, so you can focus on inspiring action without adding extra workload.
Count Your Carbon Updates!
Count Your Carbon returns for 2025/26 on 15th September and it’s better than ever! Over the summer, we’ve added new features, refreshed the calculation questions, and updated the tool with the latest government carbon metrics.It’s also now integrated into the Eco-Schools Portal, so you can access it directly when logged in, though separate login details are required!
Eco-Schools Training!
Last year, over 1,700 educators joined our online training sessions, building confidence to tackle climate change with young people through the Eco-Schools programme. Thanks to the generous support of the BUPA Foundation, we’re delighted to once again offer free training to all educators in England throughout 2025–26. Dates and booking are now live at the link above—don’t miss your chance to get involved!
Green Flag Renewal Information – Get Started!
Renewing your Eco-Schools accreditation in 2025/26? You can unlock a 15% discount on your accreditation fee by opening an application and reaching 30 points by 1st November. Points can come from any section of the form, and renewal schools will be directed to a streamlined application, where each answer is worth more points, making it easier to hit the target!
The Great Big School Clean 2026!
Save the date! The Great Big School Clean returns on 19th March 2026! Last year, over 100,000 young people pledged to litter-pick, transforming local spaces and inspiring communities nationwide.
Eco-Schools Impact Report 2024-25!
At Eco-Schools, we love showing how individual actions contribute to a wider environmental movement and our Annual Impact Report does just that. This year’s report will be released on Wednesday 17th September.
What Else is Happening?
- The NINEVEH Charitable Trust have grants of £3-5,000 available for UK schools, PTAs, and not-for-profit organisations, for projects that promote a better understanding of the environment.
- The British Carnivore Project at the University of Hull has asked us to share their free, illustrated booklet titled Urban Tails. Designed to engage 9–14 year olds with local nature, the booklet shines a spotlight on one of the UK’s most beloved urban animals: the red fox.
- Fairtrade Fortnight begins on 22nd September, you can now access Fairtrade Fortnight’s Brew it Fair resources to help your school get involved. Resources include presentations, activities, and games designed to help students explore the power of fair trade.
- The Great British Beach Clean from the Marine Conservation Society kicks off on Friday 19th September! Your school can help by promoting the event to your community or finding a local beach clean to join. There are plenty of free resources and guides available to support.
- World Car Free Day is coming up on 22nd September, a global celebration where towns and cities invite people to experience streets free of cars! Living Streets has great ideas to help your school get involved, but at its simplest, why not encourage your school community to ditch the drive for just one day and enjoy a cleaner, quieter journey?
