How Teaching Sustainability Helps Schools Supports Your Compliance and Helps You Meet DfE Climate Goals

How Teaching Sustainability Supports Whole-School Compliance

With the UK committed to reaching Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050, sustainability in schools has become a national strategy. From energy usage to student engagement, sustainability is now crucial to implement in your educational framework. 

True environmental responsibility isn’t just about planting trees or banning plastic straws. Embedding sustainability in schools is a powerful way to align curriculum goals with eco-conscious practices, including compliance, inspections, and emissions reporting.

With tools like iAM Sustainable, schools can lead in eco-education while staying in line with regulatory requirements and carbon reduction. Throughout this guide, we will explore: 

• What sustainability in schools is and its importance in your curriculum 

• How environmental education is vital to whole-school compliance 

• Practical ways you can embed sustainability into your curriculum 

• How iAM Sustainable helps schools create and achieve sustainable development goals

Let’s dive in! 

What is Sustainability in Schools - and Why Teach it Now? 

Sustainability in schools goes far beyond poster campaigns and recycling bins. It’s about equipping students with the knowledge and skills to fight the climate crisis and environmental issues, even beyond the classroom. 

This includes:  

• Climate Literacy - Understanding the science
  behind (and the impact of) global warming. 

• Carbon Footprint Awareness - From personal 
  lifestyle choices to school-wide emissions.

• Responsible Consumption - Linking everyday 
  decisions to long-term impact. 

These topics naturally align with school subject areas such as science, geography, and sociology, and they also directly connect to the DfE Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy.

Teaching sustainable practices in schools is an essential part of teaching students to live and lead in a greener future.

From Eco-Awareness to Accountability 

Where Education Meets Compliance

Embedding sustainability in the curriculum is key to regulatory compliance. A recent survey found that 85% support increased environmental efforts in schools, emphasising the importance of teaching sustainability.

Here are some ways that teaching environmental sustainability intersects with regulatory and compliance goals: 

• Implementing sustainability teaching resources throughout your school provides concrete evidence for Ofsted’s personal development framework and supports the wider school community's values. 
• School sustainability initiatives, such as energy-saving drives and student-led renewable projects, contribute to SECR reporting, help you hit DfE targets, and allow you to show accountability to stakeholders. 
• Carbon literacy among school staff and students supports behavioural change, such as prioritising energy efficiency or cutting food waste, which directly lowers energy use and reduces carbon emissions.
  
  

Practical Ways to Embed Sustainability in the Curriculum 

Turning sustainability from a subject to a school-wide mindset can seem complex, but at iAM Compliant, we make it simple. With our new sustainability feature, you can easily ensure all staff and students are up to date with the latest sustainability teaching resources. 

Here are some practical strategies you can easily implement to enhance sustainability in school: 

• Cross-Curricular Teaching - Weave climate and sustainability topics into science, PHSE, English and beyond. 

• Eco Clubs or Student Sustainability Ambassadors - Encourage students to take the lead in real-life environmental responsibility. 

• Student-Led Sustainability Audits - Combine these with school-wide eco campaigns to give students control over sustainable practices in school and provide learning opportunities.
  
  
• Staff Upskilling - With iAM Compliant’s expert training resources, you can ensure all staff, from school leaders to TAs, are fully equipped with education for sustainable development.

How iAM Sustainable Helps Schools Connect Learning with Leadership 

• IOSH-Approved & CPD-Accredited Training
  Our accredited modules encourage cultural change that drives energy efficiency and student-led sustainability. Each of our sustainability teaching resources can be completed in less than 15 minutes, with animated visuals to boost memory retention. 

• Custom Climate Action Plans
  As per the DfE’s latest sustainability guidelines, all schools must have a Climate Action Plan in place. With iAM Sustainable, you can easily create and implement a comprehensive Climate Action Plan directly in our platform, without the need for external consultants. 

• Energy Monitoring & Built-In SECR
  Easily link teaching sustainability to data and show students the real-world impact of their positive actions with our energy monitoring tools. Ensure compliance year-round and identify waste areas to reduce energy bills. 

• AI-Powered Sustainability News Feed
  Stay up to date and spark meaningful classroom discussions with our carefully curated sustainability news feature. Centralise sustainability for both students and staff with our AI-powered updates! 

If you'd like to learn how to lead by example, understand why sustainability is a priority, and unjumble sustainability jargon, why not download our FREE Sustainability 101 guide today?

Build a Culture of Change with iAM Compliant

Sustainability isn’t just an 'add-on'. It’s the foundation of a future-ready, greener school. With iAM Sustainable, you can confidently take the next step to reaching Net Zero carbon emissions while maintaining compliance with UK government targets and DfE regulations. 

By embedding sustainability into your curriculum, you’re not just educating future generations - you’re building a school culture that’s future-proof, compliant and climate-conscious. 

Are you ready to turn sustainability into real, measurable climate action? Build your school's FREE Climate Action Plan using our dedicated tool, designed specifically for schools and MATs. Create your CAP in minutes, track emissions and link classroom learning directly to whole-school environmental progress.

For even more practical ideas, you can also explore our FREE Sustainability guide!