As part of the National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), our school is delighted to play its own small part in promoting sustainability and environmental awareness. Thanks to funding received through the ESD grant, we are creating a Biodiversity Garden that will provide a valuable outdoor learning space for our pupils. This project will encourage an appreciation of nature, promote sensory experiences, support local wildlife and pollinators and inspire our school community to become active stewards of our environment for future generations.
Please read our Sustainability Policy Statement:
Sustainability Policy Statement
School: S N IOSEF NAOFA
Templemore, Co Tipperary.
Roll Number: 17731K
Phone: 050431141
June 2026
All public service bodies are required under the Climate Action Plan to adhere to the Public Service Climate Action Mandate – and to develop Climate Action Roadmaps setting out how they will deliver on their energy efficiency and emission reduction targets.
Schools now have a separate Climate Action Mandate under which they are required to adopt a Sustainability Policy Statement. The School Sector Climate Action Mandate can be read in full here: gov.ie – School Sector Climate Action Mandate (www.gov.ie)
The second National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development – ESD to 2030 also informs the content of the following Sustainability Policy Statement template.
ESD aims to ensure that “by 2030, all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development”. (Sustainable Development Goal 4.7)
The following has been prepared as part the School Sector Climate Action Mandate, and in keeping with the principles and themes of ESD to 2030, and has been accepted by the Board of Management of our school.
Purpose
The purpose of this Sustainability Policy Statement (“the Statement”) is to outline how our school promotes sustainability and climate action, through our actions and activities. Sustainability can be defined as the ability to exist and develop without depleting natural resources for the future.
Scope
Sustainability is a community issue and applies to all students, teachers and employees of our school. Parents and guardians should note, and where possible, promote the Statement. The Board of Management of the school will ensure that decisions made in respect of the school align with the Statement.
Vision Statement
Our school’s vision is to provide a high quality holistic education which fosters and promotes lifelong learning and social justice amongst our pupils. Each pupil will be empowered to realise their full potential as resilient, tolerant, respectful and happy citizens in a global community.
Our S.P.S. (Sustainability Policy Statement) ensures that sustainability is not taught as a standalone topic but is embedded across curriculum areas, school operations and decision-making, reflecting our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals. Our vision links to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) -SDG 3, SDG 5, SDG 12, SDG 13, SDG 15 & SDG 16
Mission Statement
As a school community we aspire to create a climate of physical, emotional, social and intellectual safety for all so that teaching and learning can occur with mutual value and respect and a shared sense of purpose.
We endeavour to help and enable each child to live a full life as a child, to reach their full potential, to relate to and be aware of others and the environment and to meet with the challenges of living in a global society.
As a school community we aspire to create a climate of physical, emotional, social and intellectual safety for all so that teaching and learning can occur with mutual value and respect and a shared sense of purpose.
We endeavour to help and enable each child to live a full life as a child, to reach their full potential, to relate to and be aware of others and the environment and to meet with the challenges of living in a global society.
Our Mission Statement links to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) -SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 5, SDG 7, SDG 11, SD 13, SDG 14, SDG 15 & SDG 16
St Joseph’s Primary School Values
Our school’s values are kindness, truth, justice, compassion, inclusivity and a sense of wellbeing and align with SDG 1, SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 5, SDG 10 & SDG 16.
Whole School Approach to Sustainability
Our school has adopted this Sustainability Policy Statement. It clearly details the aims and objectives of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in our school, its relationship to the vision, mission and core values of the school
Our school recognises Education for Sustainable Development as a cross-curricular theme and this is co-ordinated effectively in our school
Opportunities are identified to introduce and address sustainability in the classroom, across all subjects
All our school policies are aligned to the principles of sustainable development
Resources to assist in the teaching of sustainability are adequate and sufficient at all levels.
Our school carries out regular self-evaluation of our teaching practices in the area of sustainable development
Our school is a member of the Irish Schools Sustainability Network (www.ISSN.ie)
Our school keeps up to date with developments in ESD including by being registered for the quarterly ESD Newsletter https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/a1d6e-education-for-sustainable-development-newsletter/
Environmental Sustainability
Green-Schools is an international environmental education programme, offering a well-defined, controllable way for schools to take environmental issues from the curriculum and apply them to the day-to-day running of their school.
Our school is part of the Green Schools Programme.
Our school was recently awarded our 11th Green Flag award on the theme of Global Citizenship Food & Biodiversity. Our school has a Green Team comprising staff and students whose role is to promote and inform the whole school community of the targets & actions of our particular theme. This theme’s main area of focus was the study of the Irish honey bee and the environmental threats facing it.
Our school engages with SEAI Education & Youth Programme’s curriculum linked energy Resources, pupil Workshops and teacher CPD
Schools | Community Energy | SEAIhttps://www.seai.ie/community-energy/schools/
Our school engages with:
Templemore Tidy Towns
National Spring Clean Up
Biodiversity in Schools Ireland
An Taisce; Global Citizenship Waste Management
An Taisce; Picker Pals Programme
Biodiversity in Schools
Pollinator Project
An Taisce in the area of sustainable development
FIBKA (Federation of Irish Bee Keepers Association)
Vet auditor with the European commission
Our school has a comprehensive and cohesive recycling policy in place and uses recycled and recyclable materials whenever possible
No ‘Mow May’
Our school has comprehensive policies in place in respect of water conservation, waste, food waste, single use plastics and energy
Our school resources are procured and utilised taking into consideration their impact on the environment. For example we:
Purchase recycled paper for printing
Collect batteries for Laura Lynn Charity
Use compostable caddies & brown bins for all organic waste
Participate in the RETURN scheme
Make regular trips to WEEE Ireland with electric equipment
Installed 14 Solar Panels as part of Schools’ Photovoltaic Programme
Applied for inclusion in the DEY’s Climate Action Summer Works Scheme
Our school environment clearly displays information on sustainability and sustainable practices in prominent and accessible places
Our school actively promotes and fosters an attitude of care and responsibility towards the natural environment.
Our school promotes and facilitates outdoor learning e.g. our school has an outdoor classroom and we are in the process of creating our ‘Cúinne na nGiorracha’ – sensory biodiversity garden to protect native species of minibeasts and trees, hedgerows and wild flowers
Our school promotes and facilitates biodiversity e.g. we have a bug hotel, planters, hibernacular, caterpillar, bat & bird boxes, raised beds as well as installation of recent Asian hornet traps
Our school promotes sustainable transport including where possible, walking and cycling to school, our school partakes in the Walk to School Week, scooter parking racks, bicycle shed and we offer Cycle Right Training Programmes to 5th Class every year
Our school engages with programmes that support and promote Environmental education e.g. An Taisce, Green Schools Ireland, NTA- National Traffic Association, Cabragh Wetlands, Templemore Town Park, Picker Pals, Tipperary County Council and UNICEF.
Social Sustainability
Our school ethos recognises the importance of and is sensitive to issues surrounding gender equity
Our students are provided with opportunities to develop and use their skills to participate in the solving of community problems at local level
Our school ethos strives to prepare students for life as citizens of a global community
Our school engages with Global Citizenship Education programmes such as World Wise Global Schools https://www.worldwiseschools.ie/ and other programmes working in this area
We are a recognised Global Citizenship School
The needs of all students in recognition of differentiated physical or learning abilities, are taken into consideration and accommodated.
All school staff are provided with the training in the area of conflict resolution, in order to support and affect positive student behaviour
We are a Restorative Practice School
We engage with the Fair Trade Movement
We celebrate cultural diversity biennially on World Cultures Day
Economic Sustainability
A non-competitive ethos of co-operation and sharing of resources is modelled in our school’s allocation of its resources
Students are involved in the decision-making process on resource allocation within our school e.g. Student Council involvement
Students are provided with opportunities to learn small business skills for example participation in the Junior Entrepreneur Programme
Our school’s fund-raising activities reflect and actively demonstrate ethical and sustainable principles
Our school buildings are maintained to a high standard, with best practise in the area of sustainability in mind
Our school educates on, and promotes the principles of a circular economy
Cultural Sustainability
Our school ethos aims to foster students’ self-esteem, along with a mutual regard and respect for fellow students and positive social interaction and relationships
Our school ethos, in tandem with the curriculum, strives to prepare students for life in an increasingly multicultural society
Our school demonstrates a commitment to community engagement and encourages the community’s involvement with the school
Our school has an active role in supporting cultural diversity both within the school itself and in the wider school community
We celebrate cultural diversity biennially on World Cultures Day
Staff Competence
Our Staff are supported in building their own capacity in the area of ESD such as:
An Taisce; Global Citizenship Waste Management
An Taisce; Picker Pals Programme
Tipperary County Council; Tidy Schools Award
An Taisce; Citizenship Energy
SEAI Workshops for children
Laois Education Centre / SEAI- Energy Management
Biodiversity in Schools; Pollinator Project
South Tipp Climate action series -10 weeks
Greenschools Ireland- Climate Change Action (20 hours CPD)
The ESD to 2030 Fund. How the ISSN can help you with Funding, Global Citizenship and Sustainable Development Education
An Taisce; Global Citizenship biodiversity
Heritage in Schools Scheme- Cabragh Wetlands Thurles
Greenschools Ireland.org- annual CPD for Coordinator
Webinars and CPD with Biodiversity in schools:
“Native woodlands & hedgerows”
“Nature in tight spaces!”
“Water Worlds at school” (ponds, wetlands, rainwater planters)
Bringing back nature tables
ESCI webinar; Nature and Irish
Online webinars with the National biodiversity data centre: Gardening for Biodiversity with the All Ireland Pollinator Plan
Introduction to invasive species in Ireland
Introduction to Ireland’s Citizen Science Portal and Biodiversity Maps
Managing School Grounds for Biodiversity (Caretaker)
Student Competence
Our students are encouraged and supported to participate in peer to peer learning activities
Our students are encouraged and supported to undertake action orientated projects such as Tidy Towns, Picker Pals & National Spring Clean
Our school has a Student Council, Wellness & Active Teams, The Cinéalta Crew, Coiste Gaelach & a Green Team who are involved in decisions about all initiatives that pertain to them
Our students are encouraged to volunteer for local community action on sustainability projects such as Tidy Towns
Goals
Ongoing implementation of the 5 themes intertwined with Global Citizenship
Completion of Sensory garden, biodiversity patch & wild flower garden
Annual harvesting of vegetables from raised beds
Increased awareness of invasive species such as the Asian Hornet
Upgrade & maintenance of outdoor classroom
Celebration of diversity day during this coming year 2026-2027
Implementation and review
This Statement was implemented during 2025-2026. To ensure our school strives to improve its work within sustainability and climate action, the Statement will be reviewed every 2 years.
