DfE Strategy

Education is vital in helping tackle climate change and creating a better, greener world for future generations. Our Classroom Climate will educate and inspire pupils & schools on the importance of sustainability in their local communities and on the international stage.

OCC helps schools meet the requirements of the DfE sustainability & climate change strategy:

1. Excellence in education and skills for a changing world
: preparing all young people for a world impacted by climate change through learning and practical experience.

2. Net zero:
reducing direct and indirect emissions from education and care buildings, driving innovation to meet legislative targets, and providing opportunities for children and young people to engage practically in the transition to net zero.

3. Resilient to climate change:
adapting our education and care buildings and system to prepare for the effects of climate change

4. A better environment for future generations:
enhancing biodiversity, improving air quality and increasing access to, and connection with, nature in and around education and care settings.

Clean Air Action

Space station science in every classroom! Algae are the true lungs of the planet and photosynthesise CO2 to O2 by as much as 400 times the rate of trees.  

Every single one of OCC’s algal bioreactors gives the same benefit of having a 10 Year Old Oak Tree in the classroom (without having to pick up any leaves!). If looked after correctly each classroom’s natural algal bioreactor will clean the air around pupils:

  • Turn CO2 into O2: As CO2 levels rise indoors this can affect concentration, irritability and productivity levels.
  • Remove Particulate Matter: Particulate matter consists of dust, dirt and liquid that is suspended in the air and can get into your lungs and even your bloodstream.
  • Reduce Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs: These can cause health effects in eyes, nose, throat, liver & kidneys dependent on the level of exposure from toxins and chemicals found in everyday products.

Capture Carbon

Follow OCC’s algae bio-reactor farming guidelines and you will capture carbon direct from the air you breathe.  You will also be able to run experiments, harvest, measure, utilise, transform, and sequester the carbon too.

Harvested algae has lots of uses:

  • Superfood! Dried out, algae are one of the most nutrient rich foods on the planet*
  • Fish Food! Fish love Spirulina.
  • Plant Food. It makes and amazing fertiliser.  Sprinkle it on your school’s plants.


Why not use some shop bought spirulina and cook with the earth’s most nutrient rich food.  We’ve even got a cook book to get you started.  

*While commercially grown algae are amazing to eat, we wouldn’t recommend eating the harvest from the classroom as little fingers can introduce all sorts into the bioreactor.  The algae will probably eat it all and make it safe but better to be on the safe side.

Partners

Our Classroom Climate has brought together the absolute best in the sector to deliver the UKs’ first climate change movement for Primary schools.  We were painfully exacting in our expectations and we’d like to thank everyone involved (especially for their patience!):
  • Bee1: Their aim is to educate everyone about the importance of bees and other pollinators to our natural ecosystem. They plan to engage with all sectors to produce environmentally sustainable solutions to help combat our current climate emergency and in turn, reverse the declining bee population.

  • Spokes Education: A digitial learning agency, combining learning design, creative design and development to create engaging, interactive and accessible learning experiences. They have social responsibility at the heart of everything they do.

  • Cardiff University / Pharmabees: Cutting edge research exploring how the pollination of certain plants could lead to the development of drugs to treat serious medical conditions now resistant to traditional antibiotics - otherwise known as 'superbugs'.

  • Connex Education Academy: Provides schools and learners with research-based, flexible online qualifications, continued professional development, and well-being & mental health support.

  • SciQuip: Everything needed to equip small & large laboratories from centrifuges, microfuges, freeze dryers, incubators, vortex mixers and water baths. They also offer accessories and supplies such as spinner flasks, pipettors and pipettes and more.