About

A small number of trees planting in a newly established woodland

The Sustainable Schools network at Sheffield Hallam University, is a supportive network that aims to develop, facilitate, and network those interested in climate change and sustainability. It is a forum:

  • for practitioners to share their research and activities with other practitioners and Sheffield Institute of Education researchers and make links for future climate change and sustainability research.
  • for researchers from Sheffield Institute of Education and from our partner schools and organisations to share their research findings, projects and engage in developing collaborative approaches.
  • to support capacity building for developing climate change and sustainability education and research.

Activities include

  • Monthly eBulletin updating on local and national projects and funding opportunities
  • Termly #EcoTeachMeets – bringing together practitioners and organisations to share good practice, latest research and activities
  • Termly newsletter with more in detail information
  • Regular blog entries
  • Showcasing events taking place in and around Sheffield and South Yorkshire (for practitioners and students)

The network is coordinated by Lee Jowett, Climate Change and Sustainability Fellow at Sheffield Hallam University.

Image of Lee Jowett, climate change fellow

Lee Jowett MA MSc PGCE CSciTeach
Climate Change and Sustainability Fellow

I am a Climate Change and Sustainability Research Fellow in the Sheffield Institute of Education Research and Knowledge Exchange. My interests focus on climate and sustainability education within all educational setting from early years through to higher education and into lifelong learning. I work in a local and national context, often with external partners to create and deliver climate education programmes, including curriculum materials, facilitating quality assuring and researching climate and sustainable learning.

Following my first degree in Zoology, I worked as a secondary science teacher in Sheffield for ten years during which time, I completed the Science Additional Specialist Programme (SASP) particularly focussing on physics up to KS5. Before starting at Sheffield Hallam, I led a climate education team in a local authority for nine years working directly with over 100 schools.

As a Climate Change and Sustainability Fellow I am particularly interested in how climate changed education is currently delivered in the English education system and how we can use the Department for Education’s sustainability and climate education strategy to drive change.

I have worked with teachers and the school community, local authorities, government, and other education organisations including NGOs. I have a strength in partnership working with others developing professional development as well as practical whole school projects that engages climate literacy.

I lead on climate change and sustainability within the Institute of Education (SIoE) at Sheffield Hallam University both within the university and outward facing programmes. I lead the sustainable schools’ network – a forum for practitioners and researchers to share research and enquiry to support capacity building.

I have previously worked with a wide range of national and international organisations including: the ASE, NAEE, Earthwatch, WWF, Ashden, Eco-Schools, Salix and Learning through Landscapes.