Work programme

The project work will take place in eight (8) European regions following a common theme and approach but working within the realities of their local contexts.

Project participants will establish a local steering group with representatives of the key actors to inform the local project work. These key actors will include secondary school teachers, educational authorities and business representatives in addition to representatives identified at a local level with links to the project work (e.g. other environmental educational groups, agencies).

Secondary schools will be formally supporting and contributing to the development of a work programme that trains a School Energy Management Team of pupils in basic skills of surveying the energy situation and instigating a programme of improvements on the basis of their observations. The school building and community will be used as a basis for the acquisition of skills that can then be transferred to the workplace.

School Energy Management Teams will be matched with workplaces supporting and informing the project action so that pupils will have the opportunity to visit a place of work and apply their knowledge to a real life context. This increases the general awareness of energy use and efficiency measures for pupils, teachers and workplace staff and has the additional benefit of introducing pupils to the possibilities for future careers in the field of sustainable energy.

The pupil programme will be supported by quality resources developed on the basis of a review of existing good practices. Through the careful evaluation of the project activity these resources will be trialled and assessed to create best practice examples that will be made available to inform future work.
Steps to be followed:

• Local key actors are actively engaged in the development of a programme of work and supporting materials that educates about energy issues
• Educational resources and support materials that educate about energy issues and enable pupils to assess energy use and take practical steps to improve the energy situation in schools and workplaces are produced.
• The confidence and skills of teachers in delivering energy related education are developed.
• Schools and workplaces are actively engaged in pursuing energy efficiency, sustainability and renewable energies through work led by pupils.
• Schools and workplaces are co-operating and communicating to support the implementation of pupil led programmes that address energy issues.
• Identified local schools, teachers, pupils and workplaces are actively engaged in actions to improve their energy situations
• Evaluation of the project and the results will be realised
• Wide dissemination of the project and the results will guarantee the replication of the intervention in other schools as well.