The Academy of St Francis of Assisi

The school is an academy jointly sponsored by the Roman Catholic Church and Church of England. The Academy took students into the new buildings from September 2005 and was officially opened by the prime minister in February 2006. The building is an educational resource where possible. Thus the environmental strategies are clearly evident to students and staff, allowing for interaction and monitoring as part of the curriculum.

>Effective planning <sty sys-align-left>Particular impetus for the emphases of the Academy has come from the Anglican Bishop of Liverpool and the present head of the school. The Specialism Development Plan for 2006-09 begins by stating that the aim is to become a school where working sustainably is the norm and where sustainability is transferred into the local community and beyond. The plan stems from four main roots: <sty sys-list> <sty sys-item>The original vision or mission for the Academy <sty sys-item>The WWF Pathways Project <sty sys-item>The Eco-Schools initiative <sty sys-item>The Government's 'Every Child Matters' policy. <sty sys-align-left>The implementation of sustainability dimensions is largely the responsibility of the deputy head. There is a curriculum committee and a specialism committee and both are stated to be highly supportive of education for sustainability. A new post of education for sustainability co-ordinator (ESC) , has been agreed and will be sought as a priority. A mapping exercise is underway with restructuring of the Key Stage 3 (Years 7 and 8) curriculum to integrate environmental sustainability themes and to include a 'competence curriculum' is scheduled for launch in 2008-09. 4>Student pride

Student pride in the Academy is an aspect that the senior management consider important. The recent favourable publicity, including the focus on the quality of the buildings, including the environmental design aspects, has been in the local press, contributing to the increased prestige of the Academy. The head considers this has led to improved student self-esteem and attainment over recent months. St Francis has topped the value-added tables locally.

There is also the goal of moving towards carbon neutrality. Much of the plan is detailed and covers many aspects of the life and management of the school, setting a proposed time frame on the possible achievement of each element of the plan. CPD with some staff is already underway using the WWF 'Pathways to Sustainability' as a focus. The school is also committed to preparing for an Eco-Schools Silver Award and then on to a Green Flag Award in the early stages of the development plan. The Healthy Schools initiative is programmed for the present session. There has been significant cooperation and financial assistance from the Groundwork Trust, particularly in relation to the development of the Year 7 allotments.

Making it happen...

• The building itself has received a high level of publicity, drawing attention to the environmental design features. This has been significant in raising the initial enthusiasm of staff and students to sustainability.
• The appointment of an ESC, which has been agreed, should provide a more support for this aspect of the school.
• CPD is already underway – the emphasis placed on education for sustainability in this context together with the way that it is addressed across the whole of the staff, is important in establishing it as part of the responsibility of all staff in the academy.
• The 'student voice' is considered to be important by the senior management of the Academy. It is recognised that with students from this local community careful induction into democratic processes is necessary and takes time.
• Links with the community are recognised as important; thus creating the idea that the Academy should be a significant local focus. The deputy head has made considerable efforts in this direction; first by placing emphasis on a high profile social event in the local park and then by making it clear that the Academy has a stake in the development and management of the park adjacent to the school.