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Education for Social Responsibility

Empowering Tomorrow's Eco-Adventurers to be Game Changers and Change Makers of the Future

Our Education for Social Responsibility (ESR) program addresses the urgent need for school's to prepare children to navigate environmental and social challenges. It offers a unique solution by supporting the integration of sustainability and ethics into the curriculum, empowering students to be ethical leaders. The key benefit is shaping eco-adventurers ready to tackle tomorrow's challenges.

Shortlisted
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Overview

HundrED shortlisted this innovation

HundrED has shortlisted this innovation to one of its innovation collections. The information on this page has been checked by HundrED.

Web presence

2018

Established

300K

Children

4

Countries
Target group
Students lower
Updated
May 2024
That social responsibility and sustainability become essential parts of the curriculum and ESR is given the same status as core subjects. A future where students are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to address the pressing challenges of our time. A generation of ethical leaders who prioritize sustainability and fairness, creating a brighter, greener future for all.

About the innovation

Why did you create this innovation?

ESR was created to address the critical need to prepare children to face 21st-century challenges like climate change, resource depletion, and social injustice. Traditional education often overlooks these issues, so our aim is to instil social and environmental responsibility, empowering them to grow into ethical leaders who prioritise sustainability, fairness and empathy

What does your innovation look like in practice?

ESR is a comprehensive initiative that permeates every aspect of our school community. Our curriculum integrates sustainability and ethics across all year groups, with topics like climate change and ethical trade woven into traditional subjects like geography and science. We look at ways to bring ESR into everything we teach and every aspect of school life. Crucially, this starts with our 2 1/2 year olds and continues throughout the school. Through hands-on projects, such as our Green Leaders program and partnerships with organizations like Twin Science, students actively engage in sustainability initiatives. Additionally, our use of technology, like STEAM-powered sustainability projects and educational resources, enhances learning and fosters innovation. Our program's success is evident in our students' awareness and passion for social responsibility, as well as the tangible impact they make within and beyond our school community.

How has it been spreading?

Our Head leads ESR for the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) and gives talks to Heads' conferences. ESR is strongly promoted on the IAPS website. He writes articles and the school has teamed up with educational providers (PlanBee and Twin Science) to help deliver and raise the profile of ESR. The school supports initiatives such as the Breteau Foundation's plastic changemakers programme. Heads visit the school to find out more about implementing ESR. 2023 Inspectors said that our pupils are acutely aware of problems facing the planet, think seriously about decision-making in the world, and are keen to make small changes at school to make the environment more eco-friendly and sustainable. We aim to set up an ESR centre of excellence at school and outreach locally.

If I want to try it, what should I do?

An excellent summary of the aims of the programme can be found on the PlanBee educational resources leaflet attached. Read some of the articles written by the Head, Marcus Culverwell, which outline the ethos behind the programme. Contact him directly via Reigate St Mary's to find out more.

Implementation steps

Look at Your Current Curriculum
Sit down with staff at each year group level to discuss how the 7 strands of ESR can be woven into current teaching and topics
Think about Age Appropriate Resources
It is important that children learn ESR as early as possible so include the nursery curriculum
Ensure there is joined-up learning as the children move up the school
Something like Global Citizenship for example, will need to be woven into teaching in every year group building upon the learning from the previous year.
Appoint an ESR Lead
This will provide a central point for coordination and to help with whole school ESR days or initiatives
Contact PlanBee
If you require more structured resources, contact supplier PlanBee who teamed up with Head, Marcus Culverwell, to produce the resources needed to deliver ESR

Spread of the innovation

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