Two new innovative projects are being launched next month to increase the knowledge of sustainability in the city's schools.

City of York Council and Science City York have teamed up with the North Yorkshire Business and Education Partnership (NYBEP) to develop the new schemes.

The first project is called Bright Futures and aims to help 10 primary schools in York to increase their knowledge of sustainable development - whether that's creating and staging an eco-musical or buying energy efficient light bulbs.

Participating schools are encouraged to involve the whole school and work across the whole curriculum. They will each receive £100 (funded jointly by CYC and SCY) to provide them with the resources and support to develop their projects.

On completion, the schools will be able to showcase the immediate impact of their work and the longer term benefits derived both in terms of learning and energy efficiency gains.

Bright Futures is part of the council's Sustainable Schools Strategy (downloadable from the LA Portal at www.yorkla.org), which provides schools with a vision for Education For Sustainable Development, the resources and support to develop sustainable projects.

Secondary schools will also get the chance to take part in a project called the Science City York Green Energy Challenge. The aim of the project is to give five teams of year eight pupils in each school the chance to develop their ideas for tackling climate change.

Students will be able to work with local industrial and business experts for advice and guidance as they develop their proposals - from setting out their research and proposed solution, to planning their budget and how best to market their idea.

The official launch of both project will take place at City of York Council's centre for excellence Eccles Building, Burnholme Community College, on Wednesday 3 November, and will be an opportunity for schools to get expert advice from a wide range of partners.

For more information about the projects schools can contact:
Secondary challenge: contact North Yorkshire Business and Education Partnership on 01904 693632

Primary challenge: CYC contact Vikki Pendry on 01904 551409 or stbarnabas@york.gov.uk, or Sue Atkinson on sue.atkinson@york.gov