This blog was contributed by Planet Mark, a sustainability certification partner supporting schools and businesses to measure and reduce their carbon footprint through robust data, training, and engagement.

Back-to-school season brings its familiar mix of fresh starts and busy schedules. New timetables, classroom preparations and the rhythm of a new academic year. But this year, more schools are using September as something more: an opportunity to rethink how they operate and embed sustainability into the heart of school life.

And there’s growing reason to act. According to research from UCL and the Department for Education (2025), children in England could lose up to 12 school days a year by 2050 due to extreme heat, unless schools take steps to adapt their buildings and operations.

It’s no longer just about one-off litter picks, or recycling bins. Schools across the international community are asking deeper questions: How can we reduce our impact?

At Planet Mark, we work with schools of all sizes and settings across the globe. Here are five actions that are helping schools move from intention to long-term impact.

1. Start with what you can measure

The first step isn’t overhauling everything; it’s understanding your school's operational impact. That might mean reviewing energy bills, transport habits, food waste, or water usage. Some schools begin with a full carbon footprint while others simply track high-impact areas. What matters most is establishing a reliable baseline, which becomes the foundation of your sustainability journey.

A clear baseline allows schools to focus on the most effective actions, set achievable goals, and celebrate year-on-year progress that truly makes a difference.

2. Use September to rethink the everyday

Back to school means fresh stationery, supplies, and systems, making it the perfect time to reset habits. Small operational switches can have big effects when done at scale.

Could your school introduce second-hand uniform days? Could pupils bring their own water bottles or reusable cups? Could you cut down on single-use materials in the classroom or staff room?

These changes aren’t just about lowering impact; they’re also opportunities to make sustainability visible and relatable to students.

3. Make sustainability part of student leadership

When students lead, the message sticks. And when sustainability becomes a shared responsibility across the school, it’s more likely to become a core value for everyone.

One example is Sherborne Girls, a full-boarding school in Dorset, UK. After reviewing their sustainability approach, they set up student-led initiatives that achieved measurable results:

• An 8.7% reduction in carbon emissions within a year
• 50% drop in floodlight energy usage after switching to LEDs
• A student-designed reusable cup scheme to cut down on waste
• House competitions based on energy reduction, driven by real-time data

By combining student efforts with staff coordination and clear data, the school created momentum. As the school's Director of Estates, Tim Peacock, quoted:

“Planet Mark is like our decarbonisation sat nav, showing us where to go and how to get there.”

This collaborative approach made sustainability feel like a whole-school effort, not a top-down message.

4. Turn data into student action

Many schools collect sustainability-related data, but fewer use it as a tool for learning and engagement.

Schools that actively share carbon or energy data with pupils, through assemblies, lessons, or student councils, spark critical thinking, friendly competition, and pupil-led initiatives that make sustainability feel real and relevant.

Embedding sustainability into the curriculum transforms it from an add-on into a core part of learning. Planet Mark’s sustainability workshops empower staff to weave eco-themes into teaching, helping to nurture the next generation of sustainability leaders.

And the rationale is more than ethical, it’s strategic. Between 2023 and 2024, global demand for green talent surged 11.6%, while the supply grew by just 5.6%, a gap that signals how vital it is to equip students with green skills needed today and in the years ahead.

5. Keep it practical and consistent

The most impactful sustainability strategies aren’t built around one-off events. They’re embedded into culture and day-to-day choices.

This could mean aligning staff training with your sustainability goals, embedding environmental awareness into existing subjects, or reviewing procurement policies and engaging your supply chain.

Small steps, repeated consistently, create more long-term engagement than a single campaign. It’s less about perfection, and more about building a school culture where sustainability is part of how things are done.

Looking ahead

Back-to-school energy brings motivation, new routines, and fresh focus, the ideal moment to start (or restart) your school’s sustainability journey. And it doesn’t require big budgets or sweeping reforms.

Start where you are. Focus on what you can currently measure. Get students involved.

Schools don’t just prepare students for exams; they prepare them for the future. A sustainable future depends on action now. By 2025, all UK schools are expected to have a dedicated sustainability lead and a Climate Action Plan in place, embedding responsibility and long-term strategy into daily school life.