OAK is pleased to announce the appointment of Sophie Bodycote to the new role of Trust Sustainability Lead. This position has been established to guide our schools in their efforts to address climate change and nature decline, and Sophie’s extensive background in both environmental protection and education makes her an ideal fit for this important role.
A Career Dedicated to the Environment
Ms. Bodycote’s professional journey began with a degree in Applied Biology, where her studies focused on plant protection, ecology, conservation, and toxicology. Following her academic work, she assessed the environmental impact of fish farming at the University of Stirling. She then spent 11 years as an environmental protection officer for Coventry City Council, managing issues related to air, land, and noise pollution.
At the age of 39, Ms. Bodycote transitioned to a career in primary education, where she served as a teacher and later as an assistant/deputy head for 21 years. It was during her final years at Brookside Primary School that her passion for the environment merged with her teaching career. She began feeding birds outside her classroom, which engaged students in identifying and recording different species. This initiative led to her supporting the school’s eco-council, and she eventually took over the eco-club. The club’s work, which included activities like making habitats and delivering assemblies on hedgehogs, highlighted the need for a dedicated sustainability role at the trust level.
Strategic Objectives for the Upcoming Year
As the new Trust Sustainability Lead, Ms. Bodycote’s immediate priority is to meet with school heads and sustainability leads to secure their support and offer her assistance. She has already begun visiting school sites with the trust’s premises manager, Paul, to identify areas for future planting. The trust plans to obtain free trees from the Woodland Trust and is also collaborating with organisations such as the National Education Nature Park (NENP).
Ms. Bodycote has outlined several key objectives for her first year in the role:
- Green Flag Award: Each school will establish an eco-club and work toward achieving the Green Flag Award.
- Curriculum Development: The curriculum will be reviewed and mapped to integrate sustainability education.
- Biodiversity Enhancement: Schools will identify and implement ways to improve biodiversity on their grounds, including planting new trees.
- Professional Development: Staff will be provided with appropriate training, such as carbon literacy, as needed.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Efforts will be made to engage all stakeholders in the sustainability process.
The Trust’s Vision for a Sustainable Future
Ms. Bodycote believes that the creation of her role underscores the trust’s commitment to sustainability. The trust’s strategy is twofold: to reduce its own carbon footprint through actions like waste management, improved biodiversity, and reduced energy use, and to prepare students for the future by teaching them how to make environmentally conscious choices.
Ultimately, Ms. Bodycote’s vision is for all OAK schools to be recognised for making a tangible difference. She envisions school environments with enhanced biodiversity where children are actively engaged with the outdoors. Her goal is for the trust’s sustainability efforts to inspire and be replicated by the wider community.