Children exploring the soil trays gathered about

Climate Action at The Hive

Climate and sustainability education is critical in helping young people understand the impacts of climate change, encouraging healthy attitudes and behaviours, and developing competencies and leadership skills that are vital for a sustainable future.

All the programmes listed below, for students and teachers, are designed to embed and embolden climate action.   

Schools & Colleges Climate Charter

This ambitious document draws together sustainability learning, decarbonising and a culture of caring for the planet. It is designed to support schools in creating a climate action plan wherever they are on their sustainability journey.
Download the Charter

An accompanying Climate Action Toolkit which reflects the structure of the Charter hosted on The Hub. 
Visit the Climate Action Toolkit

Contact our Climate Action Outreach Coordinator Poppy Flint to find out more about climate learning support for Waltham Forest schools and colleges.

  • Waltham Forest Schools and Colleges Climate Charter

    All schools and colleges can sign up to show their commitment to climate action and make use of the charter wherever they are on their sustainability journey. 

    Read about the Climate Charter
  • Climate Leadership Programme

    Young people living or attending school in Waltham Forest can join this programme to develop their skills and confidence to act on the issues that matter most to them.

    Click to find out more about the Climate Leadership Programme
  • Eco-leads Network

    Join our Eco-leads Network to access our Teach-Meets, half-termly networking and CPD events to enhance knowledge and skills and enable peer learning. 

    Read more about the network
  • Climate Confidence for Teachers

    The Hive has developed a 1- day climate literacy and action training course to enable teachers to embed sustainability into their lesson and to turn this anxiety into knowledge and action.

    Read more on Teacher Training
  • Carbon Literacy Training

    Carbon Literacy provides learners with a clear understanding and ‘an awareness of the carbon dioxide costs and impacts of everyday activities and the ability and motivation to reduce emissions, on an individual, community and organisational basis.’

    Read more about Carbon Literacy
  • The Big Climate Conservation

    Waltham Forest Council is putting local young people at the heart of the borough’s response to the climate and ecological emergency, enabling them to be heard and informed about Waltham Forest’s Climate Action Plan.

    Find out more about the Big Climate Conversation
  • Learning for Climate Action Wall Planner

    Bring the Climate Charter to life with our new 2023-2024 Climate Action wall planner! Each term celebrates one (or more) of the 8 themes from the charter, such as Curriculum for Sustainability and Climate Justice. With this calendar you can look forward to a year full of inspiring climate action in the classroom and beyond. 

    Download the wall planner here
  • Climate teaching resources

    There is a huge range of sustainability related lesson resources and campaigns out there.

    These resources are carefully selected and listed by theme with recommended key stage and subject links. 

    View the resources list
  • Count Your Carbon

    Eco-Schools have built this Carbon Footprint Calculator in collaboration with nurseries, schools and colleges. An essential starting point for reducing your schools carbon emissions.

    Start Counting Your Carbon

I think the opportunity for children to come up to The Hive and actually learn about sustainability and take it home to their parents is amazing.

Ms Lampard, Head of Chingford C of E primary school

I would like to thank the colleagues who nominated me for the award, especially as I feel that at The Hive we work very much as a team, with everyone playing their part in ensuring that we provide fantastic environmental and climate action learning for young people and families. I feel that the award is recognition of the work that has been taking place at Suntrap, (now The Hive) over the past 55 years to provide high quality education for residents; in the environment, about the environment and for the environment. I am retiring at the end of March, but am proud and grateful to have worked with so many people, over many years, who are passionate about caring for the environment and who share that passion with local residents and especially young people. With the recent publication of the borough’s Climate Action Plan, The Hive will support Waltham Forest to achieve the goal of reaching net zero by 2030; continuing to provide residents with a better understanding and connection with the natural world which in turn supports them to develop as active citizens for a sustainable future.

Kerry Rolison Winner of Pride of Waltham Forest 2022, Tackling the Climate Emergency Award