Empowering Children to Lead the Way
“I believe the children are our future… teach them well and let them lead the way.”
Whitney Houston’s timeless lyric – originally sung by George Benson as backing track to The Greatest – is more than just a beautiful line from a classic song from my childhood (my big brother never stopped listening to that record!); it’s a call to action for all of us involved in schools and education.
Our pupils are not only inheritors of the world we leave behind but also the architects of tomorrow.
When it comes to sustainability, involving children meaningfully in school initiatives isn’t simply beneficial—it’s essential.
By inviting children to the heart of the sustainability (and regenerative) journey, we can nurture not just planet friendly habits but also a generation that sees kindness, fairness, and environmental stewardship as fundamental values.
Kinder
At the core of any sustainability effort is kindness—towards our planet, each other, and ourselves. Schools are uniquely placed to cultivate this value, weaving empathy and compassion into everyday learning. Involving pupils in sustainability projects – like caring for a school garden or wildlife area, or organising a ‘kindness week’ focused on positive actions for people and the environment, builds their sense of responsibility. It shows children that their voices matter and their actions can make a difference now and in the future.
Greener
Sustainability is often equated with going green—and understandably so. But the most effective environmental initiatives are those driven by the very people who will carry their impact forward: the pupils. From energy-saving campaigns, repair workshops and waste-reduction challenges to biodiversity projects like planting wildflowers or constructing bug hotels, children’s enthusiasm and creativity know no bounds. Children also need to convene with nature, for their physical health, their wellbeing and the simple joy these encounters bring: mindfulness, nature sketching and exploration all contribute to the development of the whole child.
When children are trusted to lead, they become passionate custodians of the environment, inspiring even the adults around them to do better.
Fairer
True sustainability goes hand in hand with fairness and equality. Understanding how our actions and choices impact on people around our planet is crucial. This means considering everyone’s needs – ensuring that projects remove barriers and create awareness. The positive impact is local and global; school uniform exchanges, food-sharing schemes, and inclusive after-school clubs raise awareness and break down inequalities, ensuring that sustainability is not just for the few, but a shared goal for the many.
When children see fairness at the heart of environmental action, they learn that sustainability is about justice and respect for both people and the planet.
Leading Together for a Brighter Tomorrow
By embracing a kinder, greener, and fairer approach to sustainability in schools, we empower today’s pupils to become tomorrow’s trailblazers. We work together – with children, educators, parents, and whole communities—to create spaces where children’s ideas and leadership can flourish. After all…
When we nurture young people’s passion for sustainability, we’re not just building better schools – we’re building a brighter future for everyone.
We’ve been working with schools to develop their Climate Action Plans (a recently established requirement from the DfE).
Through this, not only have we developed the strategy for the school, but we have also unlocked:
- Positivity: Feeling hopeful and optimistic about the future
- Agency: Recognising their power to make a difference
- Connection: Strengthening relationships with others and the wider world
This is just the beginning of what we hope will be a much bigger journey where we’ll be supporting our school communities to lead the way to a brighter future!
‘Matt delivered a great, practical session in school. Our children love being outdoors and looking after the planet but felt empowered to contribute even more to our school’s sustainability journey as a result of his visit.’
June Lowther, Headteacher
Selside Primary School