A WEE COUNTY school is teaming up with Cambridge University in a bid to tackle the world's climate crisis.

Dollar Academy, in conjunction with The University of Cambridge and Sustainability Education, is set to host the first ever UK summit tackling sustainability and education, inviting delegates to discuss how schools across Europe can address the climate crisis.

Designed for school leaders, both pupils and staff, policy makers, politicians and business leaders, the UK Education and Sustainability Leadership Summit will take place from 18-20 May next year and focuses on a central theme of disrupting education for a sustainable future.

The University of Cambridge Institute of Sustainable Leadership has helped to organise the summit at Dollar Academy by providing access to world leading experts and co-curating the programme of speakers.

Key speakers confirmed to date include Will Day, University of Cambridge fellow and PricewaterhouseCoopers sustainability adviser and Professor John Calland, from the University of Cape Town and the University of Cambridge.

Also speaking will be one of the founders of NuVu, a pioneering Massachusetts-based innovation school.

The programme for the three-day summit will feature discussions around climate change, the political economy and how to ensure education is future smart.

The idea to host the summit came about after Ian Munro, newly appointed rector of Dollar Academy, and two pupils attended the education for a sustainable global future conference in Berlin.

Ian Munro said: "We left Berlin under no illusion as to the groundswell of interest and passion amongst young people around matters of sustainability, from issues connected to our climate to those that deal with poverty and inequality.

"I also realised that, as the global sustainability movement continues to grow, there is an urgent need for informed voices from a whole host of perspectives to join the narrative so that the next generation can make informed, evidence-based decisions."

Katie, a Dollar Academy fifth year pupil, said: "Attending the Berlin conference made me realise that, if we are going to make a real difference, sustainability should be deeply intertwined with everyday life – both in our education and at home.

"I hope that hosting the summit at Dollar Academy will inspire many more schools and their communities to take sustainability seriously and ensure it becomes a priority."

In addition to hosting the summit, the school has introduced a number of initiatives to improve sustainability, including a carbon survey of the entire school, a pupil-led steering group looking at lifestyle and behaviour habits, reducing single-use plastics on campus and increasing recycling.

For further information or to register interest in attending the summit, please email: ukesls@dollaracademy.org.uk