It’s easy to get caught up in the difficulties of going green in education-but there’s a bright side too. In fact, sustainability offers some real opportunities for UK schools, colleges, and universities to innovate and lead.

For one, it’s a fantastic way to enrich learning. Embedding environmental themes into lessons-from science and geography to art and business-can bring subjects to life in meaningful, real-world ways. Students aren’t just learning about climate change; they’re exploring how to fix it. That’s powerful.

But it’s not just about the classroom. When schools take sustainability seriously, it often ripples out into the community. Maybe it starts with a school garden, a litter-picking campaign, or switching to reusable lunch packaging. These small actions build habits-and they show students that their choices matter.

There’s also a practical bonus: sustainability can save money. Cutting energy waste, switching to LED lighting, or managing water use better may require some upfront investment, but over time those changes can significantly reduce utility bills. And when every pound counts, that’s a big win.

Then there’s the reputational side. For universities in particular, sustainability credentials are starting to influence student choices. Parents and prospective students alike are looking at how seriously institutions take their environmental responsibilities. It’s no longer a nice-to-have-it’s part of what makes a university attractive(1).

In colleges and sixth forms, green practices can also boost employability. More and more industries want workers who understand sustainability, and offering students that edge can set a college apart(2).

And let’s not forget about the staff. A strong sustainability ethos can help attract and retain passionate teachers, lecturers, and support teams. People want to work in places that match their values-and going green is a great way to show what yours are(3).

Sustainability in education isn’t just about cutting emissions-it’s about helping to shape people and communities. With the right support, schools and universities can become some of the most powerful forces for environmental good.

Bibliography

1 The climate for change: How university sustainability is impacting student decision-making (Accessed May 2025) https://www.hepi.ac.uk/2024/07/12/the-climate-for-change-how-university-sustainability-is-impacting-student-decision-making/

2 ‘This is why your sustainability initiatives are failing’ (Accessed May 2025) https://www.ucem.ac.uk/whats-happening/articles/this-is-why-your-sustainability-initiatives-are-failing/

3 Curricula for the future: embedding sustainability in education (Accessed May 2025) https://www.rsmuk.com/insights/advisory/embedding-sustainability-in-education