Embedding sustainability into school life is an increasingly important priority for educational leaders. The West Sussex Wastebuster Programme, funded by the West Sussex Waste Partnership, provides a structured approach to environmental education and action, supporting schools to engage their whole community in sustainability. To assist school leaders, teachers, and eco-coordinators in maximising the benefits of the programme, a collection of Quick Guides is available to help schools integrate environmental initiatives efficiently and effectively.

Designed to align with the Department for Education’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy and Ofsted’s broader inspection criteria, these guides provide practical support across key areas of sustainability. From creating Climate Action Plans to embedding environmental topics into the curriculum, schools can access step-by-step guidance to drive measurable impact while also unlocking financial savings and national recognition.

Supporting Schools to Lead on Sustainability

The Quick Guides are structured to provide clear, actionable advice tailored to schools at different stages of their sustainability journey. Each guide includes best practice examples, recommended strategies, and links to key resources.

Explore the Quick Guides:

1. Welcome to the West Sussex Wastebuster Programme – An overview of the programme, its benefits, and how to get started.
2. Integrating West Sussex Wastebuster in Your Curriculum – Guidance on embedding sustainability education into lesson plans across different subjects.
3. Creating and Delivering Your School’s Climate Action Plan – A step-by-step approach to developing a structured and trackable Climate Action Plan.
4. Driving Environmental and Financial Savings with Wastebuster – Strategies to reduce environmental impact while cutting costs for schools.
5. Engaging Your School Community in Environmental Campaigns – How to involve students, staff, and parents in sustainability initiatives.
6. Measuring Environmental Impact and Reporting Success – Tools to track, evaluate, and showcase your school’s sustainability progress.
7. Hosting Reuse and Recycling Events – Practical advice on organising recycling drives and sustainability-focused events.
8. Earning Rewards and Recognition Through Eco-Activities – Information on how participation in campaigns can bring national recognition and rewards.

A Strategic Approach to Sustainability

By integrating sustainability into school operations and teaching, senior leaders can support whole-school engagement, student leadership, and environmental literacy, all while aligning with national policy objectives. Wastebuster provides free access to an extensive range of resources, campaign opportunities, and reporting tools to help schools implement sustainability in a way that is both impactful and manageable.