{"id":6238,"date":"2015-02-18T09:11:32","date_gmt":"2015-02-18T09:11:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/edswahs\/?p=6238"},"modified":"2015-02-18T09:11:32","modified_gmt":"2015-02-18T09:11:32","slug":"news-on-the-sustainable-schools-alliance-and-those-doorways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/edswahs\/2015\/02\/18\/news-on-the-sustainable-schools-alliance-and-those-doorways\/","title":{"rendered":"News on the Sustainable Schools Alliance \u2013 and those doorways"},"content":{"rendered":"

The latest edition of SEEd news contained a link to the Sustainable Schools Alliance [\u00a0SSA<\/a>\u00a0] which\u00a0is co-ordinated by SEEd. \u00a0Its membership is here<\/a>, though I'm told this is out of date.<\/p>\n

Much of its work is focused around the\u00a0Sustainable Schools Framework<\/em>\u00a0which, you will recall<\/a>, was something the previous government set up. \u00a0It had 8 'doorways'. \u00a0The framework was formally abandoned by the Coalition Government in 2010 \u2013 along with the rainbow<\/a> motifs \u2013 but the SSA is keeping it alive, despite its being an inadequate way of framing sustainability in schools [ Note 1<\/strong><\/em> ].<\/p>\n

The SSA\u00a0has added a 9th\u00a0doorway \u2013 Biodiversity and Nature, <\/em>and a\u00a0recent SEEd blog<\/a>\u00a0gives more detail of this. \u00a0It includes this passage:<\/p>\n

\"When this government, through Michael Gove, dropped the [sustainable schools] initiative and support for it \u2013 we, as a sector were left to our own devices. Such was the interest that 300 organisations attended 4 stakeholder meetings in 2011 and 100 attended the launch. \u00a0It took another 2 years but we finally have found a model to make this work \u2013 the Sustainable Schools Alliance Board of 25 members ( a few places are left if you want to join this merry band!). The Board covers all aspects of sustainability, all approaches, all sizes of organisations and areas of England. \u00a0How do I know it is working? \u00a0People want longer meetings to network and work up other side collaborations, commit to actions, volunteer and make decisions decisively. \u00a0Do you know many networks like that? \u00a0And persistence and necessity has won the day. \u00a0Although I am also a great believer that you have to sow seeds ( sorry!) and then allow them to mature. \u00a0You also have to try to model collaboration and win trust \u2013 and that all takes time. \u00a0Especially since it is against the zeitgeist. \u00a0So do keep following the progress of the SSA \u2013 anyone can join, if you are a member of SEEd, we assume you are interested in the SSA. See what improvements based on the practice of the last 10 years are being introduced and what it can do for you.\"<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Note 1<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Here's a comment I made 6 years ago about the Sustainable Schools Framework<\/em>\u00a0and its troublesome doorways metaphor:<\/p>\n

The DCSF's use of the\u00a0doorway metaphor\u00a0has meant\u00a0that the language of its sustainable schools framework was already familiar to school leaders because it mapped squarely onto many recent policy foci; for example, healthy eating \/ citizenship \/ well-being \/ transport \/ energy \/ and social inclusion.\u00a0\u00a0DCSF hoped that schools would see in the framework something of what they were already doing, and be encouraged to develop it further.\u00a0\u00a0And the evidence (anecdotal at least)\u00a0seems to be that this strategy has been effective in enabling schools to enter into thinking about sustainability and learning, sometimes for the first time.<\/p>\n

That's what good doorways do, of course: they allow you to enter, but that's all they do.\u00a0\u00a0Once you're inside, you don't usually then spend time looking back at the doorway.\u00a0\u00a0So why do so\u00a0many schools seem to be doing just that: reifying these\u00a08 areas\u00a0and building work around them?\u00a0\u00a0This is\u00a0not to argue\u00a0that the doorway themes don\u2019t matter, they do, but If you get the point about sustainability then the doorways have done their job. This is not something that DCSF seems fully to appreciate, given how much advice and guidance is couched in doorway terms. \u00a0For\u00a0example:<\/p>\n