The ‘EWE Centre’ The ‘EWE Centre’ (A Regional Partnership)(A Regional Partnership)

“Learning Today – For Tomorrow“Learning Today – For Tomorrow

Why?

School Improvement through ESD 1. Improving environment for

learning.

2. Learning about sustainability.3. Delivering the DfES Action Plan.

What Have We Done?

• Established a regional training base for sustainability education refurbishing redundant space in a primary school

• Creating a good practise school grounds being used for training of teachers/ school support staff and as a testbed for new ideas.

• Created sub regional and regional partnerships delivering direct support in schools

• Developing a regional strategic partnership for sustainability education in the north east

Partnerships• Groundwork • Local Authorities• NECLEA• Growing Schools• One World Network North East• Learning through Landscapes• North East Environment Network• Local Agenda 21 Partnership

Resourcing

• Local Authorities• Groundwork• Local Charitable trusts• School Contracts• DFID• DFES• Consultancy/ earned income

Programmes from the EWE Centre

• School Grounds development• Waste & Recycling• Global dimension• Growing Schools• Forest Schools• Outdoor learning• Eco-Schools• Get Out More

Regional Partnership Programmes

• Global Dimension (OWNNE)• Forest Schools• Eco-Schools• School Grounds• Growing Schools• Get Out More

Outcomes

• Schools benefitting from in-school support (regionally and sub-regionally)

• INSET and training for NGO’s, HT’s and LEA Advisory staff delivered in partnership with many of the LA’s in the region.

• Collation and creation of resources for use by schools

• New projects being developed• Funds available in some cases for schools• Regional ESD Conference on 2nd November

for senior managers.

Lessons Learnt

• Partnerships take time to develop• Try to be as inclusive as possible• Be willing to take a lead• Be flexible, creative• Communication is key, often

difficult to maintain• Know your own argument

The Future

• Fully implement the thinking• Get all LEA’s/Children’s Services on

board• Make the partnership effective for

schools across the region• Fully engage with the ECM and BSF

agenda’s• Ensure financial sustainability

For more information visit:

www.ewecentre.org.uk