Sustainability

Our vision is to actively engage pupils, staff and the community in developing a sustainable environment which fosters and inspires best practice and emphasises the importance of preparing and empowering individuals to become responsible for contributing to a sustainable future.

Future Generation Trust (FGT) aspires to reduce carbon emissions and to develop a renewable energy plan for each of our academy sites. Significant progress has been made on analysing energy consumption data and improving energy and water management at each academy. To encourage collaborative working and ensure consistent implementation of practices and procedures a cross academy working group has been established. The group is chaired by the Head of Operations and Facilities and a nominated Trustee also attends the half termly meetings. Environmental sustainability and energy efficiency are the key drivers for the improvement projects implemented by the group, examples of which include:

• Pro-active energy monitoring – Baseline data has been established for energy and water consumption at each site. Usage is monitored monthly from ‘actual’ meter reads taken by site staff and the data is used to track seasonal trends and to spot any discrepancies.

• Renewable energy – Exploring opportunities to generate our own energy through Solar PV installations and installing EV chargers for staff use. We also have in place a Heat Decarbonisation Plan (HDP) for each academy which is part of the trust’s estate.

• Reducing energy usage – Through passive (insulation) and active (management and controls) interventions we have reduced the demand for energy and water across our buildings.

• Consistent approach – Creating an Energy & Water Management Good Practice Guide and Catering Sustainability Plan.

• Engagement – Promoting a culture of sustainability, via a pupil led Eco Group at each academy.

• Travel – Much greater use of remote meetings and training has been deployed across the trust to reduce the need for staff to travel to meetings and events.

• LED lighting – Implementing an annual rolling programme of investment to upgrade the lighting to LED’s in all academies. The trust is committed to doing the same in any academy joining the MAT in the future.

• Energy procurement – Exploring opportunities to procure energy utilities more efficiently by tendering a trust energy contract.

FGT has a track record of successfully implementing capital improvement projects which improve thermal efficiency and thereby contribute to the trust’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions.

We aim to lead by example with the promotion and demonstration of Environmental Sustainability. In order to do this we will:

• Adopt best operational practices to reduce environmental impacts of the policies and activities of FGT and our academies.

• Measure and take action to reduce the carbon footprint of our activities and ensure our buildings and services are able to adapt to environmental change.

• Continue to monitor, manage and minimise use of energy and water.

• Minimise the environmental impact of associated travel with our venues and business.

• Minimise the amount of waste produced by FGT and our academies to encourage greater recycling.

• Encourage and develop our pupils, their families, staff, volunteers, partners and stakeholders to conduct their activities in an environmentally responsible manner.