3. Leading with purpose: Culture and implementation for climate change education in schools

This episode focuses on the what and how of climate change education.Featuring Jenn Plews OBE, CEO of Northern Star Academies Trust, and Professor Jonathan Sharples, Professorial Research Fellow at the Education Endowment Foundation, the discussion explores why embedding climate change education into school life is not a one-off event but a long-term, strategic endeavour.Jenn and Jonathan reflect on what it takes to create a culture where high-quality climate change education can thrive. Drawing on evidence from the Education Endowment Foundation’s A School’s Guide to Implementation, they discuss why culture, leadership, and carefully planned implementation are critical to making climate change education meaningful and lasting. The conversation highlights the need for strategic investment, long-term thinking, and robust monitoring and evaluation to ensure that learning about climate change becomes part of a school’s purpose not a passing initiative.