Creating Value In Schools
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The DfE has shared research on the ways in which climate change could impact on schools. Overheating, flooding and water scarcity are the three main risks identified. For example, more days of extreme heat in summer could result in more days of school closures and loss of learning. Having a climate change action plan and sustainability lead in place will help schools mitigate against risks.
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The DfE research and analysis, Impact of UK climate change risk on the delivery of education, highlights three main risks to schools:
Taking three different climate scenarios, there’s a forecast of how many extreme heat days (e.g. days when indoor temperatures reach 35°C) there might be. Extreme heat days generate a risk of schools having to close, meaning lost attendance and learning for pupils.
Flooding: many schools are at risk from surface water and river and sea flooding, which can affect:
There’s an estimation given of the percentage of schools at risk from surface water and river and sea flooding. Surface water flooding presents the much bigger risk, with 59% of secondary sites deemed high risk.
Water shortages
While water shortages are currently uncommon, auditing and reducing your water usage is a way to reduce bills, as well as helping the planet.
See the DfE’s tips to reduce energy and water use for water-saving suggestions, as well as the school-related guidance at Waterwise. Recommendations include:
Flood risks
Download the flood risk checklist from Good estate management tools and checklists and look up your school’s postcode to check your long term flood risk.
Make sure that flood risks are included in emergency plans so key actions, roles and responsibilities are clear in a flooding situation, as well as what needs to be done in the aftermath.
Consider nature-based solutions to flood risk, such as increasing the number of trees and plants on your site.
Hot weather
Some school buildings are more heat resilient than others. Whatever the condition of your estate, there are practical ways to manage in hot weather. For example:
Assess and register risks
Finally, ensure that relevant risks are added to your school or setting’s risk register, so actions and mitigations are recorded and reviewed.
