Global Action Plan International

Developed by GAP UK

Action at School engages a whole school community

– staff, pupils, parents, local business – in improving sustainable behaviour in the school and the neighbourhood.

Action at School is curriculum linked. Each school chooses to work with a single theme: waste, water, energy or transport, over a full school year. Because of its length, and the support supplied to schools, it requires third party funding, which in the UK is usually met by local authorities or businesses.

The process involves the formation of a school Action Team including students, teachers, school site managers, caretaking staff and governors. The Action Team is trained and supported to measure their school’s environmental impact, set improvement targets, communicate effectively and build partnerships with local community organisations.

The students are encouraged to come up with imaginative solutions and lead the way in implementing them, gaining skills in decision-making and project management.

Up to 2007, GAP UK has worked with over 300 schools, achieving an average reduction of 40% in waste to landfill and an 11% reduction in electricity and gas use.