Environmental, Social & Governance

Bourne Education Trust’s primary focus is, and will always be, the education of our young people. At the same time, we are a £100+ million organisation responsible for a large workforce, multiple sites and substantial land and assets. Environmental, social and governance considerations have become a strategic priority for organisations globally and now form an important part of our own governance and regulatory framework.

We have identified four core aspects of our work in this area:

• Environmental responsibility: we are committed to being a force for good by placing environmental sustainability at the heart of our decision-making. This includes delivering capital projects that improve energy efficiency and climate resilience, enhancing and protecting our green spaces and biodiversity, and embedding environmental education across our curriculum. We recognise our responsibility to respond to the climate crisis by transitioning to a lower-carbon estate while ensuring that no school is left behind. Through strong leadership, effective governance, and sustainable operational practices, we will reduce our environmental impact, support biodiversity, promote responsible resource use, and create healthier learning environments for current and future generations.

  Reducing our carbon emissions is an essential part of this commitment. While it helps us to manage costs, our motivation goes far beyond that - we recognise our responsibility to act and to play our part in responding to the climate crisis. 

  In line with the government’s net-zero pledge, we are working towards meeting, and where possible exceeding, the expectations set out in the Department for Education’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy. This will be achieved through strong leadership and governance, significant investment in on-site renewable energy, and practical changes across our schools to reduce energy use, cut waste and embed sustainable practices.

  We are also incorporating sustainability across our curriculum, helping pupils understand the environmental challenges we face and the role they can play in addressing them.

  To learn more about how we are putting this into practice, what sustainability looks like in our schools, and the targets we are working towards, please click here.

• Social justice: developing a clear, Trust-wide strategy built on action and impact, with specific commitments to reading, careers, early years, community partnerships and a fully inclusive curriculum.

• Equality, diversity and inclusion: ensuring all decision-making is underpinned by EDI principles and that our curriculum and environments reflect the communities we serve. Our schools play a vital role in supporting higher standards of health, welfare and human rights.

• Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND): providing the best possible offer for young people with SEND by developing and training our staff, reviewing curriculum pathways and working closely with external agencies.

Our staff are one of our most important assets, and many choose to work with us because we are committed to ethical, values-driven practice. By getting our governance right, we can continue to attract and retain talented people.

These are significant, society-wide challenges, and we believe that by focusing on our environmental, social and governance responsibilities, we can make a meaningful contribution. This is not only the right thing to do, but also the best way to ensure long-term, sustainable success.

You can read more about the Trust’s priorities by expanding the sections on sustainability, equality, diversity and inclusion, social justice and SEND below.