The Carbon Detectives’ Kit is an online carbon footprint calculator for schools in England. The project was funded by the Department for Children Schools and Families and was developed by the Field Studies Council (FSC) Environmental Education Unit.

  • The project has been delivered in partnership with Orangeleaf Systems Ltd and Best Foot Forward.
  • The approach is based on an original idea by Ken Webster and the Field Studies Council.
  • The website was designed by Orange Leaf Systems Ltd with illustrations by Scribbles Illustration and Design.
  • Trialling of the website was facilitated by two FSC centres – Epping Forest and Brockhole.
  • Carbon footprint consultancy was provided by Best Foot Forward.
  • The project was managed by Richard Dawson (FSC) with educational consultancy support from James Hindson (FSC) and Ken Webster (independent).

DCSF Sustainable Schools

The future holds many challenges for young people. The Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) Sustainable Schools aims to empower children to lead sustainable lives by teaching them the new skills and behaviours needed to become part of the solution to the world’s big challenges, rather than part of the problem.

Schools play a vital role in developing these skills. The initiative aims to encourage schools to take on board the principles of sustainable development in their everyday work, achieving educational excellence alongside the goals of healthy living, environmental awareness, community participation and global citizenship.

Sustainable Schools are about helping young people and improving the communities and environments in which they live. By becoming sustainable, schools can save money, for example on water and energy, and at the same time improve the health, fitness and emotional well being of their pupils. Sustainable Schools also benefit the wider community by contributing to local social and environmental goals.

The Department for Children Schools and Families is working with partners to provide resources and materials to help embed sustainable development into all areas of school life. To find out more about how you and your school can get involved, visit www.teachernet.gov.uk/sustainableschools.

Field Studies Council

The Field Studies Council (FSC) is a pioneering educational charity committed to 'bringing environmental understanding to all.' Established in 1943, the FSC has become internationally respected for its national network of 17 education centres, international outreach training projects, research programmes, information and publication services and wide range of professional training and leisure courses. FSC goes beyond conventional thinking to challenge the underlying assumption about how education can lead to a sustainable future. We ask what really brings about change and how can our learning achieve this? Our inspiration is always to deliver capacity building for sustainable change.

 

Orangeleaf Systems Ltd and Coreware Ltd

Orangeleaf Systems Ltd (www.orangeleaf.com) a web development team specialising in the heritage and education sectors, designed this website.

Coreware Ltd (www.coreware.co.uk) designed and developed the database and calculation systems of this website and provide hosting of the site.

Best Foot Forward

Best Foot Forward are leaders in carbon footprint analysis and supplied technical data to support the development of the carbon footprint calculator.

 

Credits

We are grateful to the many people, schools and organisations that have supported the development of this project.

The web site was trialled by:

  • Worthen Primary School, Shropshire.
  • St. John the Baptist C of E School, Shropshire.
  • The Wakeman School, Shropshire.
  • The Mary Webb School and Science College, Shropshire.
  • Debden Park High School, Loughton, Essex.
  • Davenant Foundation School, Loughton, Essex.
  • St Johns C of E School, Epping, Essex.
  • Tollgate Primary School, Newham.
  • Carpenters Primary School, Newham.
  • Gallions Primary School, Newham.
  • Ullswater Community College, Cumbria.
  • Grasmere C of E Primary School, Cumbria.
  • Greystoke Primary School, Cumbria.
  • Beetham C of E Primary School, Cumbria.

Voice-overs for the Mission instructions flash movie where provided by the Shrewsbury Youth Theatre:

  • Ed Coxhead.
  • Rosie Coxhead.
  • Jessica Heap.

Climate change flash movies and video clip were provided by Defra Climate Change Challenge (www.climatechallenge.gov.uk/).

The following organisations gave advice and support during trialling and data analysis:

Images used in the 'background to mission' flash movie were provided by Greenpeace. Photo credits are:

Creator Description
(c) Greenpeace/Daniel Portnoy A car driving through a flooded street. Editorial use only/No Archiving/No third parties sales.
(c) Greenpeace/Steve Morgan Peary Caribou (Rangifer tarandus pearyi) in Canadian High Arctic. Editorial use only/No Archiving/No third parties sales.
(c) Greenpeace/Dom Dibbs Car exhaust. London.
(c) Greenpeace/Steve Morgan Crack in Larsen A Iceshelf.
(c) Greenpeace/Doug Perrine Damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, Dade County, Miami, Florida. USA. Editorial use only/No Archiving/No third parties sales.
(c) Greenpeace/Pedro Armestre Silhouetted fireman in front of burning forest foliage. Editorial use only/No Archiving/No third parties sales.
(c) Greenpeace/Shailendra Yashwant Smoke stacks of the lignite (brown coal) fuelled Mae Moh power plant discharging smoke, Mae Moh, Lampang province Thailand. Editorial use only/No Archiving/No third parties sales.