Peers propose changes to make our schools safe and climate resilient

There are three amendments currently in the UK House of Lords that are critical to our children's health and wellbeing - each of which offers clear action for Government.

☠️ 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗦 The first amendment would ban the use of PFAS - forever chemicals - in school uniforms. These chemicals are linked to significant health and environmental concerns. France has already banned them and the EU moving the same way. You can read more about PFAS in school uniforms and the proposed changes in the Guardian's coverage ‘Forever chemicals’ in school uniforms could be banned under proposed law'

🥵 𝗘𝗫𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗧 & 𝗙𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗦 The second requires a Safe & Resilient Schools Plan to ensure school buildings can cope with climate risks like extreme heat and flooding. Research by Arup for the Mayor of London found that during the 2022 summer heatwave alone, 47 of the surveyed schools which reported significant overheating impacts experienced a total of 33 closed days, or an estimated >22,000 student-days of lost learning. This is only going to get worse yet the Climate Change Committee has highlighted the UK's woeful underinvestment and under-preparedness to cope. You can read our Vice-Chair, Rosie Boycott's Letter to the Editor of the Times on how schools are 'feeling the heat' and need adapting to remain safe and climate resilient.

🌳𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘-𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗗 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 & 𝗦𝗞𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗦 The third would require the Education Secretary to properly consider the (immense) benefits of nature-based learning, both for children's mental health but also for developing the critical skills we need for a clean, healthy and prosperous economy. Scientific studies show the health benefits of time in nature are clear (https://lnkd.in/eu9Ehafw) and we have a national shortage of green skills. We need to nurture the scientists, geographers and ecologists of the future to be the best in the world yet a recent Ofsted report found that field studies were underdeveloped in almost all schools.

Thank you to the brilliant Peers across parties leading on these issues and the many expert organisations who have shared their evidence and expertise with Peers for the Planet.