Head of Education

Green Schools Project is looking for a
Head of Education to work 4 days per week leading on educational development
and delivery of our Zero Carbon Schools programme and other activities. This is a key role for
us and an exciting opportunity for you to join a growing team in an award-winning social
enterprise that is helping children and young people in schools to tackle the climate and
nature crisis.

In the past three years we have grown from a one-person organisation to a team of soon to be 7
through successful fundraising and the growth of Zero Carbon Schools, which is
currently running in 120 schools around the country.

We believe that tackling the climate and nature crisis is the most urgent
issue facing society and that schools need to educate young people about the situation and
involve them in addressing it. Young people bear no responsibility for causing the climate
crisis, yet they will have to live through an issue which will define their future. We believe
that, given the opportunity, they have the energy, enthusiasm, and determination to change
attitudes and behaviour on a local and global scale.

Our values that we do our best to embody at all times are to be enthusiastic,
innovative, environmentally responsible, ethical, collaborative, and fun.

We exist to help young people learn about and get actively involved with
tackling the climate and nature crisis. We support schools to provide opportunities for their
pupils to learn about the individual actions and systemic responses required.

We do this through our Zero Carbon Schools programme which supports pupils to learn about their
school’s carbon footprint and enables them to lead projects that reduce it. We also provide
staff training to include climate and nature in the curriculum to enrich and give purpose to
the learning experience of the students. Our education system is not doing enough to address
this issue, but schools can take action. We help them to become learning hubs for the local
community and lead the way in creating a zero carbon future.

We are keen to attract applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and
experiences but are particularly interested to hear from applicants where the environmental
education sector is currently underrepresented (ethnicity, disability, LGBT+, living in areas
of low social mobility). 

What you’ll do:

• Lead on the review, update, and development of educational resources for the Zero Carbon
  Schools programme, carrying out these tasks alongside the programme delivery officer.
• Lead the development of an education strategy for Green Schools Project.
• Plan and deliver Zero Carbon Schools sessions to give an insight into programme
  implementation.
• Lead on the development and update of teacher training resources.
• Deliver teacher training to schools.
• Review and curate our existing bank of free resources.
• Carry out educational visits for our partnership with Solar for Schools and lead on
  development of assembly and workshop content for the visits.
• Develop and deliver Zero Carbon Schools taster sessions to showcase the programme to
  schools, local authorities, and academy trusts.

We need you to have:

• Passion and commitment for helping to tackle the climate and nature crisis.
• At least 5 years of experience working in or with schools, working with children and young
  people.
• Considerable experience of leading climate and nature education activities and initiatives.
  Where possible, this would be both as a teacher in school and as an external educator.
• A passion for pedagogy and a thorough understanding of how to bring out the best in
  children and young people.
• An enthusiasm for creating, developing, and updating educational resources.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to motivate and inspire adults and young
  people.
• Strong organisational skills with an ability to prioritise while working on a variety of
  tasks.
• A growth mindset and a resilient attitude that sees setbacks as a chance to learn and
  thrives in challenging situations.

What you’ll get from us:

• An opportunity to work in an award-winning social enterprise that is transforming the way
  that schools respond to the climate crisis.
• A supportive and encouraging environment in which to grow your skills and knowledge.
• £40,000 per year pro rata, 4 days per week.
• 33 days annual leave per year including bank holidays pro rata.
• Flexible working hours and arrangements.

Location: London. Delivery will be predominantly to schools in and around
London, possibly with some travel around the country. Non-delivery time will be remote working
with occasional team days in London or Bristol.

Timeline:

Deadline for applications: Sunday 30th June

First interview (informal phone call): 1st – 5th July

Second interview (via zoom): 8th – 12th July

Notification of decision: Monday 15th July

Job start date: Monday 9th September

If you have any questions before you make an application, please get in touch with Henry
Greenwood: [email protected]