Teaching about climate change is difficult. A Global Action Plan teacher survey found half of UK teachers felt ill-equipped to deal with student anxiety about climate change. It’s hard for schoolteachers to inform their pupils about the consequences of climate change while including positive messages of hope.

Through lessons focused on developing understanding and exploring solutions, teachers can play a crucial role in preparing young generations to address climate change and fuel poverty.

I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you for your on-going support in enabling our pupils to develop their knowledge, understanding and skills around sustainability and climate change. Your input is invaluable and I’m excited to work with school council to share their work on our schools climate pledge.

Louise Tidey, Lead Practitioner, Perseid School

The Energy Matters programme, supported by London Borough of Merton Council and Merton Climate Action Group, aimed for educators and children to become climate and energy champions in their schools, homes, and communities.

Through this project, the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) developed engaging learning modules and resources for use in schools across Merton. They cover key topics like fuel poverty, energy, and the climate crisis, and highlight how to save energy and money, instilling useful habits for now and in the future. 

The Energy Matters educational materials

Our cross-curriculum materials show staff and pupils how they can save energy, protect our climate and make a positive impact in school, at home, and in their community.

Here’s what a Year 5 teacher at Lonesome Primary School in Merton said about using Energy Matters:

Sometimes teachers get into learning cycles (or ruts!) as curriculums tend to be static. Doing something like this can force you out of that.

The materials were very easy to use and provided direction and structure. Parents have been surprised by their kids telling them off and encouraging better energy behaviours!

Following the programme, CSE has published and made public the education materials developed to support more educators to embed vital climate and energy topics into their curriculums. They are free to use and fully editable.

The Energy Matters programme

In 2022, CSE worked with four primary schools in Merton to co-design the Energy Matters module and teaching materials. Teachers were trained on key climate change and energy topics to deliver the module across Early Years, Key Stages 1 and 2 in the Summer 2022 term.

To share learning with the pupils’ families, each school set up an Energy Cafe, which ran in partnership with local energy advice provider CREW Energy. The cafes allowed families to get local advice and support on their energy bills.

Here are some of the key outcomes of the pilot programme:

• The Energy Matters module taught 300 pupils aged 5 to 10 across four schools.
• Reported changes in understanding and behaviour around climate change and energy at home and at school were linked to the module.
• The practical and hands-on activities and learning materials were popular with both pupils and teachers.
• The Energy Cafes supported 108 people including parents, guardians and school staff. A further 17 people were referred for ongoing support such as home visits.

The educators found the module easy to use, and noticed it supported other ongoing work.

It links well to the work we do towards the Green Flag award. It fulfils areas of the curriculum that you teach; resources and lesson plan outlines are provided; the team at CSE are supportive and contactable. You can build links with the community and families and encourage the energy champions of the future.

A teacher’s take from the pilot programme

Teaching energy and tackling fuel poverty

Alongside our materials, Energy Matters schools were also given the skills to support families of their students experiencing fuel poverty. Teachers were trained to spot pupils who may be living in fuel poverty and told how to signpost families to local energy advice services. By tackling fuel poverty alongside climate change, schools positively influence their communities to cut energy use, reduce carbon emissions and save money.

Energy Matters enabled teachers to do what they do best – shape young people into positive changemakers for their communities.

Almaz is a Nursery teacher at Hillcross Primary School, who has been working with the Energy Matters materials since December 2022. Almaz said:

We are SO grateful for CSE’s support, it has helped us to plan out how we want to start implementing more sustainability teaching across the curriculum… It’s really making a difference to our school.

Our Merton Energy Matters project ended in June 2024. We’re grateful to all the schools who were involved with the project, as well as to our funders London Borough of Merton and Merton Climate Action group. You can still access and share our Energy Matters resources.

Such a great project with strong outcomes, all and all a fantastic investment of the council’s Community Interest Levy funding.

Tim Cately, Planning Contributions Manager London Borough of Merton