Leading the sustainability agenda at the Festival of Education
As official sustainability partners at one of the world's most influential educational events, Cambridge will be inspiring educators towards a net-zero future.
Cambridge Sustainability Zone
The fourteenth annual Festival of Education takes place on 4-5 July at Wellington College in Berkshire, UK. For the second year running, Cambridge University Press & Assessment is sponsoring the sustainability strand at the event, bringing to life our ambition to progress action and debate around the world’s most pressing challenges.
Over 5,000 teachers and school leaders are expected to attend the Festival for the opportunity to listen, debate, develop and network.
The Cambridge Sustainability Zone, located at the heart of the festival site, will be an inspiring place for festival goers to discover ways to embed sustainability themes in the classroom. Charities and non-governmental organisations, such as the Field Studies Council, Chester Zoo, the Natural History Museum and the The Harmony Project, will be a part of the Zone, offering information for schools on innovative ways to make sustainability and climate education engaging for students and teachers.
Engaging sessions
There will be various talks and sessions taking place across the two days as part of the Festival's 'Sustainability Strand'.
Cambridge sessions will include:
Thursday 4 July, 10:30 – 11:15 – panel session
Building the knowledge and skills students need for a sustainable future
How can we build the knowledge and skills school students need to prepare them for the work and social needs of a sustainable future? In this panel discussion leaders in climate and sustainability education will debate this key education challenge and identify programmes already in place and in development.
Speakers:
- Christine Özden, Global Director Climate Education, Cambridge University Press & Assessment
- Richard Dunne, Founder, Harmony Project
- Jo Anna Reed Johnson, School Director Climate and Sustainability Education, Institute of Education, University of Reading
- Patrick Gordon, Environmental and Sustainable Education Coordinator at Comberton Village Colleg
Friday 5 July, 10:30 – 11:15 – panel discussion
Working together to develop life skills for a greener living
We are all looking for ways in which we can live greener and reduce our impact on society and the world. Discover and share techniques and ideas to help students and ourselves, at school and at home, make greener personal choices.
Speakers:
- Jodie Bailey-Ho, Department of Education Youth Focal Point and Founder of Teach the Teacher
- Mahnoor Kamran, Climate Action Plan Coordinator, Students Organising for Sustainability UK
In 2023, Christine Özden, Cambridge University Press & Assessment’s Global Director of Climate Education, led conversations on putting sustainability know-how into practice.
In 2023, Christine Özden, Cambridge University Press & Assessment’s Global Director of Climate Education, led conversations on putting sustainability know-how into practice.
Packed programme
Across two days, the packed programme also features keynotes speeches, including by historian, writer and broadcaster, David Olusoga, and head of Ofsted, Sir Martyn Oliver. In total, there will be over 200 sessions, as well as entertainment and exhibitions.
Other key themes throughout the festival include AI, Pride in Education, governance, oracy, wellbeing and retention, attendance, human rights across the curriculum and great teaching.
Sustainability Zone exhibitors
The following charities and organisations will be part of the Cambridge Sustainability Zone at the 2024 Festival of Education:
Black Geographers
Chester Zoo
Field Studies Council
Forestry England
Let's go zero
Natural History Musuem/National Education Nature Parks
Reboot the Future
The Harmony Project
University of Reading
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