Two-thirds of schools do not have a sustainability lead as required by new climate change rules, a poll of teachers suggests. Unions say the wider strategy is now under review. The Conservative first published in 2022, set out requirements for every school to nominate a sustainability lead from this month. They were to be responsible for developing a climate school change plan. Since Labour won power, however, little has been said about the plan. And a new survey shows that progress has been limited. Nearly two-thirds of respondents to a Teacher Tapp poll this month said their school did not have someone in the sustainability lead role. This proportion has not shifted much since 2023, when the number was 68 per cent. Just 24 per cent said they were aware that their school had a sustainability lead, up from 18 per cent two years ago. Emma Harrison, business leadership specialist at ASCL, said schools were facing a 鈥渟taff recruitment and retention crisis鈥 which 鈥渕ay be why there鈥檚 a gap in appointed nominated sustainability leads鈥. But she added that the wider strategy was 鈥渃urrently under review and we await to see how expectations on schools shift as we head towards 2026 and beyond. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important that schools and colleges are supported with the funding they need to meet these responsibilities.鈥 Policy delivery ‘inconsistent’ The Conservative government鈥檚 sustainability and climate change strategy made wide-ranging pledges for schools in 2022. As well as sustainability leads and climate plans, this included a new natural history GCSE by 2025. Schools were required to report their carbon emissions by 2024, and an聽annual climate literacy survey was introduced to understand progress among school leavers. Once appointed, sustainability leads would receive carbon literacy training, which would help them to develop a climate action plan for their setting. But a report from the in September 2024 found the delivery of the policy had been 鈥渋nconsistent鈥.聽 鈥淭he remit for these leads is very broad, ranging from operational functions such as monitoring energy/water use and reducing carbon emissions to more educational purposes,鈥 the report states. 鈥淚n some schools, sustainability leads are given adequate time and resources to carry out this additional role properly, whereas in other schools people are nominated to do the role alongside other competing demands, so they are less able to be effective.鈥 ‘Surprised, but not surprised’ Henry Greenwood, from the said he was 鈥渟urprised, but not surprised鈥 at the polling. Henry Greenwood Greenwood, who delivers teacher training on climate change in schools, added: 鈥淥ne thing I like to do is ask teachers if they know the DfE has a strategy. Sometimes I get no hands up at all. 鈥淨uite often, I get one or two hands up, which is normally the person leading on our programme, who is likely to be the sustainability lead.鈥 He estimated that around 10 to 15 per cent of schools are 鈥渒een and interested鈥 in tackling climate change, while there鈥檚 a 鈥渂ig proportion of schools that just aren鈥檛 doing very much鈥. But Alex Green, from Let鈥檚 Go Zero, said there may be 鈥渕any schools where the individual doing the survey doesn鈥檛 know they have a sustainability lead, or doesn鈥檛 know who it is鈥. Alex Green He said leaders were 鈥渢rying really hard and battling in amongst all the other things they have to do鈥. But 鈥渆nthusiasm and demand for a sustainability plan of action is increasing at an extraordinary place鈥. Strategy update Natalie Highfield, senior equalities officer for school leaders鈥 union NAHT, said leaders were committed to delivering sustainability as 鈥渁 core part of their school culture鈥, but government support 鈥渋s lacking and funding is very limited鈥. Natalie Highfield 鈥淚t鈥檚 unsurprising that schools have not been able to fully engage with the strategy, among all the competing priorities they have to juggle,鈥 she added. A Department for Education blog published in January said the Labour government鈥檚 climate strategy was 鈥減reparing schools for the climate issues we face鈥. It reiterated that they 鈥渉ope to have all schools implementing their own climate action plans by 2025鈥. Government guidance, last updated in March this year, still sets out that sustainability leads as a requirement. However, the January blog did state that the strategy was being 鈥渦pdated鈥. The DfE did not respond to a request for comment.
Michael 3 October 2025 The whole policy should be scrapped. The issue can be taught in geography. Lots of huge corporations pulling out of their commitment to net zero as they realise the weight of public feeling is not there. Schools have plenty of other immediate concerns they need to sort out.