QCDA's Sustainable Development Action Plan (SDAP) 2009

Transcription

1 QCDA's Sustainable Development Action Plan (SDAP) 2009 Contents Foreword 2 About this plan 3 Background 3 DCSF's requirement of NDPBs 5 What QCDA is doing 6 Glossary 8 Annex 1: QCDA's Sustainability Implementation Plan

2 Foreword The need to find more sustainable ways of living and working is becoming increasingly important. At QCDA we are responsible for supporting DCSF in achieving its aim to ensure that children are equipped with the skills and knowledge to live in a changing world. As individuals and as an organisation we are also responsible for our impact on the environment. QCDA is undergoing an extraordinary amount of change in 2009: the set-up of Ofqual and QCDA; relocation to Coventry; and working across three sites as we make the transition. Balancing all of these major activities while still delivering our business as usual is a challenge, but we are succeeding and as an organisation we want to do so in a sustainable way. Our new office building at Earlsdon Park in Coventry is being built to a BREEAM * Excellence Standard, which means it will not only be a first-class working environment, but also one that is sustainable. In 2008, QCDA published its Sustainability Implementation Plan. This captured all of the good work being undertaken that was contributing to the Government's sustainable development agenda. Our objective is to move forward on sustainable development by aligning with the DCSF's SDAP - Brighter Futures, Greener Lives and this publication is the beginning of that alignment. Andrew Hall Chief Executive Qualifications & Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) * Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) 2009 Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCDA) 2

3 About this plan This plan is being developed to align with DCSF's Brighter Futures, Greener Lives Sustainable Development Action Plan (SDAP) that was published in 2008, summarised in the Background section below. This covers the period April 2008 to March QCDA is developing this plan as its own SDAP to replace the Sustainability Implementation Plan (actions and updates on the latter are set out in Annex 1). Background The UK Government strategy The Government has set out five principles in its strategy Securing the future: delivering UK sustainable development strategy. All Government departments and their agencies are obliged to use these as the basis for producing their own action plans for sustainable development. The five principles are: Living Within Environmental Limits Ensuring a Strong, Healthy and Just Society Achieving a Sustainable Economy Promoting Good Governance Using Sound Science Responsibly. To improve the delivery of sustainable development both nationally and internationally the UK Government is focused on four priorities: sustainable consumption and production climate change natural resource protection sustainable communities. The Government's progress against the strategy is monitored by the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC). They are the Government's independent advisory body on sustainable development. Their role includes: assessing the Government's progress against sustainable development targets and publishing the results in its annual Sustainable Development in Government (SDiG) Report reviewing all Government Departments' Sustainable Development Action Plans (SDAP) and progress made against them reporting on Government's progress against its Sustainable Procurement Action Plan. DCSF commitment and how it affects QCDA To contribute to the UK Government's commitment to deliver sustainable development, the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has established three key objectives: 1. Leading change in the system 2. Leading by example 3. Empowering and educating young people for life in a sustainable world Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCDA) 3

4 In the DCSF's Sustainable Development Action Plan Brighter Futures Greener Lives, the Department clearly links its sustainable development objectives to Public Service Agreements, The Children's Plan and the UK Government's Securing the Future priorities. The three key objectives contain a mix of activities and commitments. The content relevant to QCDA, is described in more detail immediately below. 1. Leading change in the system DCSF works with its delivery partners to ensure that their actions support sustainable development. In the remit letters to NDPBs, each organisation is required to support sustainable development and refine messages on sustainable development. NDPBs are now required to produce their own SDAP and make returns in line with Sustainable Operation of the Government Estate (SOGE) requirements that contribute to the SDC's Sustainable Development in Government (SDiG) Report. 2. Leading by example The Government has an obligation to improve operational performance and has set targets for the whole of the Government estate to manage and reduce its environmental impact. The DCSF has put a Sustainable Operations Management System in place across their four HQ buildings. This is based on the ISO14001:2004 quality standard to manage continuous improvement. On procurement, the DCSF has developed a sustainable procurement delivery plan as part of its Sustainable Operations delivery plan. This does not have specific requirements of NDPBs, but is something QCDA should be looking to emulate where it is not already. The DCSF has stepped up the amount and quality of internal qualifications for volunteering and sustainability. The SDAP does highlight the need, amongst its delivery partners, to give a stronger message about the importance of delivering against sustainable development objectives. 3. Empowering and educating young people for life in a sustainable world The DCSF refers to the national curriculum in its SDAP and highlights the crosscurricular theme "Global dimension and sustainable development" as identified by the QCDA. The publication Sustainable Development in Action: A curriculum planning guide for schools. is available on the QCDA website. The SDAP states that the primary review will consider how the curriculum can educate children about sustainable development just as the secondary curriculum has. The new Diplomas will also provide young people with the skills for sustainable development. The SDAP looks to Diplomas to equip students to thrive in a constantly changing global society Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCDA) 4

5 DCSF's requirement of NDPBs Progress against the DCSF's three objectives will be monitored through the DCSF Sustainable Operations delivery plan that underpins the DCSF's Sustainable Development Action Plan Sustainable Operations, Procurement, People (CSR, Communications & HR) DCSF Commitment 1 Introduce NDPBs to the process of measuring the environmental impact of their policy development and operations. 2 NDPBs to deliver on their remit and produce clear and measurable sustainable development outcomes. 3a All NDPBs to produce their own sustainable development action plan What QCDA is doing to meet the commitment QCDA published its Sustainability Implementation Plan on its website in March spx This is subject to further reviews and updates. QCDA made its first SOGE return (our response to a detailed questionnaire) in June /09 Remit Letter includes two Success Measures The cross curriculum theme on Global dimension and sustainable development is brought into full alignment with the sustainable schools strategy by June Measures are taken by December 2008 that realign the Global dimension and sustainable development theme with the evolving secondary curriculum and enable progress to be assessed. 2009/10 Remit Letter includes the Success Measure: QCDA to produce a Sustainable Development Action Plan (SDAP) by the end of April 2009 that links with Brighter Futures Greener Lives, and provides support for DCSF objectives on supporting sustainable schools. This should cover both internal operations and external influence. QCDA published its Sustainability Implementation Plan on its website in March This is subject to further reviews and updates SDAP now drafted. Timing Complete March Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCDA) 5

6 3b Sustainable Operations, Procurement, People (CSR, Communications & HR) NDPBs to report data on operations in line with SOGE requirements. QCDA made its first SOGE return (our response to a detailed questionnaire) in June 2008 and again in June 2008 A Success Measure for sustainable development is included in the 2009/10 Annual Remit Letter to QCDA: QCDA to produce a Sustainable Development Action Plan (SDAP) by the end of April 2009 that links with "Brighter Futures-Greener Lives", and provides support for DCSF objectives on supporting sustainable schools. This should cover both internal operations and external influence. This plan is a direct response to this Success Measure and will be underpinned by action plans covering the following areas: educating learners and supporting progress towards sustainable schools raising awareness amongst staff at QCDA strategies, policies and processes within QCDA. What QCDA is doing QCDA's Sustainability Implementation Plan was published on the QCDA website in March This covers the delivery of QCDA's core business and operations. It identified four priority areas: Environment People Resources Policy. The plan has a number of actions against each of the priority areas. The responsibility for delivering against these actions is spread amongst the various groups within QCDA, with the majority assigned to the Strategic Resource Management group. Progress is reviewed approximately every three months. QCDA recognises that there is still work to be done to meet Government and DCSF expectations in full. However, work on the QCDA plan has progressed well in some areas, particularly in embedding the principles of sustainability within the national curriculum. The publication Sustainable Development in Action: A curriculum planning guide for schools is available on the QCDA website. During the accreditation process for new qualifications, the team reviews and comments on sustainability via the WBA system as and when qualification proposals are submitted by awarding bodies. The 2007/08 SOGE return highlighted mainly positive results in the management of QCDA's estate (with further improvements planned as part of the move to Coventry). A few examples of these are: 2009 Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCDA) 6

7 50% of all waste was recycled in 2006/07 (exceeding the UK Government's target of 40%) the new development at the Butts Road site in Coventry is being developed to achieve a BREEAM Excellence rating QCDA's outsourced facilities management provider is accredited with ISO14001 and is embedding these standards in the organisations operations. QCDA's approach to sustainable procurement has used the OGC Catalist in the procuring of its IT supplier and facilities management supplier. Our sustainable development objectives QCDA's sustainable development objectives fit into three areas: educating learners and supporting progress towards sustainable schools raising awareness amongst staff at QCDA strategies, policies and processes within QCDA. In 2009 QCDA published Sustainable Development in Action: A curriculum planning guide for schools. This publication will help schools build sustainable development into the learning experience of all learners. It supports the DCSF's National Framework for Sustainable Schools from a curriculum planning perspective. The publication of this planning guide is a major achievement for QCDA and big step towards achieving sustainable schools. QCDA has established a Green Champions group with representatives from each area within the organisation. The aim of this group is to raise awareness amongst staff of sustainable development issues. The Group meets virtually and is developing an action plan that aims to reduce energy use amongst staff within the organisation through simple measures such as turning monitors off at the end of the day, turning lights off in meeting rooms and investigating options for using 100% recycled office stationary. Until the development at Earlsdon Park is complete and all QCDA staff are located there, the organisation is operating across multiple sites. We are already reducing the number of staff travelling between the sites by utilising video conferencing and remote working technology. Although such simple measures can sometimes be overlooked, they do contribute to reducing QCDA's carbon footprint. In the transformation from QCDA to QCDA, the organisation's existing strategies, policies and processes are being reviewed to find better and more efficient ways of delivering its remit. The focus of the change activity will initially be on the processes that are essential to the organisation delivering its remit more efficiently. Towards the later stages of the transformation, QCDA will aim to incorporate sustainable development more directly into its strategies, policies and processes. Some of the priority areas for further work are: the development of a sustainable procurement strategy monitoring of the effectiveness of the standard sustainability contract clause applied by QCDA to all relevant contracts and QCDA's use of OGC Catalist as a mechanism for ensuring sustainable procurement and reducing suppliers' carbon footprint looking to implement the use of Quick Wins/extended mandatory product standards where applicable effective asset management procedures that support the reuse of suitable IT equipment. The first step towards achieving QCDA's sustainable development objectives, and the continuing support for DCSF's objectives for sustainable schools, is the development of action plans to underpin this plan in the areas described above. This work is underway and will be completed in Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCDA) 7

8 Glossary DCSF QCDA QCDA SDAP SDC SDiG SOGE WBA Department for Children, Schools and Families Qualifications & Curriculum Authority Qualifications & Curriculum Development Agency Sustainable Development Action Plan Sustainable Development Commission Sustainable Development in Government Sustainable Operation of the Government Estate Web-based Accreditation System 2009 Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCDA) 8

9 Annex 1 QCDA Sustainability Implementation Plan 2008 Action By when Progress update The environmental consequences of all QCDA's activities will be recorded so that their impact can be assessed. The register covers the following areas: emissions into the atmosphere discharge into water management and disposal of waste materials storage and management of materials energy use transport local environmental and community problems, for example noise design problems and material/supplier selection business operations. QCDA will use environmentally friendly products, materials and components across the organisation. This is already under way. QCDA's copying paper is from environmentally sustainable sources and the provider operates an additional tree-planting scheme. Work is under way to move to 100 per cent recycled paper. Green stationery is available for purchase by all QCDA divisions. One QCDA division has piloted the use of green stationery. QCDA will continue to source environmentally sustainable resources. It will adopt a lifecycle analysis approach to evaluating the purchase of products, materials and components. Planning for this approach will begin in April

10 Action By when Progress update QCDA will reduce the amount of its waste going to landfill and increase the amount being recycled. QCDA's waste is sorted on-site to separate out recyclable material. Paper, cardboard, glass, cans, plastic cups, batteries, toner cartridges and fluorescent tubes are all recycled. Where possible, pallets are returned to their originators or recycled. Similarly, the arrangements for redundant, obsolete and broken PCs, electrical equipment and furniture are based on repair, refurbishment, re-use or recycling, where possible, with safe disposal of any residue. During 2007 QCDA generated tonnes of waste material. QCDA recycled tonnes of paper, saving: 910 trees; 16,057 kilowatts of electricity; 268 cubic metres of landfill; and tonnes of CO2 emissions. QCDA also recycled 0.1 tonnes of cans, 5.04 tonnes of glass and 7.01 tonnes of cardboard (the volumes of other recycled materials plastic cups, batteries, toner cartridges, fluorescent tubes, pallets were not measured). The remaining 65 tonnes of general waste were transported for incineration, resulting in: 2,600 transport miles from collection to disposal; the generation of 35,750 kilowatts of electricity (85 per cent of which was exported to the National Grid); and the saving of 325 cubic metres of landfill space.* In 2007 QCDA recycled per cent of the waste material it generated. This exceeded the government s target of recycling 40 per cent of waste generated. Using existing communication channels, QCDA will promote recycling and environmental awareness among its staff, involve them in environmental improvement activities and provide them with appropriate specialist training and support whenever necessary. New posters are being designed for display around QCDA. The Qualifications and Skills division will act as champion of environmental improvement activities within the organisation. * Recycling figures and estimated energy savings supplied by Lime Security Shredding, QCDA's waste management contractor. 10

11 Action By when Progress update QCDA will continue to reduce its consumption of products, materials and components where practically possible. QCDA will use more energy efficient products, materials and components, and manage energy consumption. QCDA will ensure that it supports appropriate national and international standards on environmental issues. Annual audits A computerised asset management system ensures that all building assets are maintained properly to satisfy all legal requirements and optimise their performance. The system ensures that building assets are operating efficiently and provides an early warning of any problems. Water and energy use are monitored, with equipment in place to manage consumption, for example water savers. The computerised building management system controls all of the main plant. Staff are encouraged not to print out s and to print and photocopy double-sided to reduce paper and energy consumption. Throughout 2008 messages will be communicated to staff encouraging them to be aware of how they use energy and of energy efficiency, for example switching off computer monitors. An energy survey from the Carbon Trust is under way and its recommendations will be made available to the QCDA Executive. QCDA's existing environmental policy and its outsourced workplace management supplier conform to BS EN ISO and BS EN ISO 9001, international standards for environmental management and quality systems and processes. 11

12 Action By when Progress update QCDA will implement its 'New ways of working' policy when it relocates to Coventry. August 2009 Strategic Resources Management will be carrying out a trial of the 'New ways of working' policy at QCDA from April Led by its HR team, QCDA will develop and implement a people strategy that focuses on the six competencies of accountability, dignity and respect, performance, delivery, teamwork and innovation. Draft strategy being reviewed by QCDA Executive in January 2008 Replaced by the Organisational Development Workstream of the Transformation Programme. All QCDA policies will be assessed by staff for any adverse impact on equality. First report April 2008 Training on how to conduct diversity and inclusion impact assessments is ongoing. Following the training, managers will form panels to put their knowledge into practice, assessing how QCDA policies measure up against diversity and inclusion criteria. Action By when Progress update QCDA will monitor and audit its systems, procedures and practices to ensure that they comply with the environmental policy. Quarterly and annually An annual environmental audit is supported by quarterly audits against health and safety and integrated management system standards (ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and OHSAS 18001). QCDA's Procurement team will encourage suppliers and contractors, through procurement policies, to adopt environmentally sustainable practices. December 2008 Review of procurement policies and procedures to be undertaken during

13 Action By when Progress update QCDA will ensure that the curriculum supports sustainable development QCDA's Curriculum, and Communications and Marketing divisions will develop an online resource to support schools on their way to sustainability. QCDA's Curriculum division will incorporate community participation into the curriculum. Led by the Education team, QCDA will promote sustainability in qualification reform. Complete QCDA's Curriculum division has developed guidance on the Global and sustainable development dimensions of the curriculum. This highlights specific opportunities to develop learners' understanding of sustainable development. The publication, Sustainable Development in Action: A curriculum planning guide for schools has been published. The GCSE programmes of study in geography, citizenship and science all promote sustainable development by establishing aims and learning outcomes within the subject criteria that enable learners to appreciate the environment around them, recognise how they can contribute to a future that is sustainable and inclusive, and understand the environmental impact of developments in science and technology. The overarching criteria for the five Diploma Lines of Learning available in 2008 state that the design of the Diploma must consider sustainability. This is then reflected in the learning outcomes of the qualification. General studies, science and politics A level cover sustainable development. The sustainable schools section of the TeacherNet website is now available and provides a wealth of information on sustainability. The section introduces the principles of sustainable development and offers guidance on how to embed these principles into the heart of school life. QCDA Curriculum division is already developing this area of the curriculum to help learners understand community participation and develop the skills to get involved. The Education team, in collaboration with awarding organisations, will consider sustainability in qualification development by commenting on qualification proposals via the web-based accreditation system. 13