Creating Value in Schools | Sustainability | People, planet and resources

‘One of the dangers is that we think it's a risk assessment and that it's only a paper exercise. And actually if you fall into that trap, you are missing out on the opportunity to navigate the organisation in a structured and considered way.’
Host Liz Worthen gets together with school business leadership champions Helen Burge and Emma Gray to talk about all things risk. Why does risk matter? Whose responsibility is it? Is it a tickbox at the end of your meeting agenda, or something more meaningful?
We discuss:
Risk as a proactive starting point for planning – not a reactive response. 
The roles of leaders and governors in strategic risk management.
The types of risk affecting schools and trusts currently. 
The impact on pupils and the community if you don’t address risk. 
Lines of defence – the role of internal scrutiny and the schools financial value standard (SFVS).
Support for school business leaders with Risky Business events. 
‘It's the community and the pupils that will suffer if you don't look at risk or if you don't have those strategic plans.’
Emma Gray and Helen Burge have both been executive business leaders in trusts, and now support school business professionals through coaching, training and consultancy. Emma is a DfE accredited school resource management advisor, and Helen co-chairs the UK Schools Sustainability Network Operations Group. They are fans of risk management, internal scrutiny and operational excellence. 
Liz Worthen’s career in education spans teaching, training, commissioning and programme development. Creating Value in Schools is all about sustainable working: taking care of people, planet and resources to secure better outcomes for children and communities.
Join the Creating Value in Schools community: https://createvalueschools.com/subscribe/
Schools financial value standard (SFVS) checklist and guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schools-financial-value-standard
Risky Business Manchester, 19 March 2026, 9am-12pm: https://shorturl.at/M7B9T
Upcoming Risky Business Events:
Launceston, 22 April 2026
Leeds, 21 May 2026
Isle of Wight, 17 September 2026
SBL Retreat 2026: Reflect, Restore & Reconnect: https://shorturl.at/Asy1p
Diploma for School Business Managers: https://www.isbl.org.uk/level-4-ilm-diploma-for-school-business-managers
Contact Emma Gray: 1stpillar.co.uk
Contact Helen Burge: buoyantimpact.co.uk
Browse the Creating Value in Schools bookshop: bookshop.org/shop/createvalueschools
Top tips summary: https://createvalueschools.com/need-to-know/top-tips-for-rethinking-risk/ 
#SustainableSchools #Education #SchoolBusinessLeadership

How do we prepare for the changing world of AI? James Browning, COO at Lift Schools, encourages us to think of artificial intelligence as a collaborator for tackling real world problems, not just tools and fancy tech. We reflect on his organisation’s journey so far, the potential positives of AI, and protecting what matters.
Can AI help personalise learning? Reduce workload? Support high quality thinking?
How do we ensure AI doesn’t exacerbate educational inequality? 
How can the Three Horizons framework support your planning?
How is AI saving time for staff? What do pupils need to know about AI? 
What do we do about the environmental impact of AI? 
What are your organisational guardrails? AI in a supporting role, not replacing teachers.
‘What really excites me about AI is it feels like genuinely now for the first time, we have a technology that can make a difference… And I think there is a risk that if we get it wrong, we could create a bigger divide and a bigger disadvantage gap.’
James Browning is Chief Operating Officer at Lift Schools, a Chair of Governors, and has previously worked in edtech roles. He’s on the DfE’s estates strategy group and digital standards working group. 
Liz Worthen’s career in education spans teaching, training, commissioning and content development. Creating Value in Schools is all about working sustainably: taking care of people, planet and resources to secure better outcomes for children and communities. 
Brisk Teaching: https://www.briskteaching.com/
James Browning on how Lift Schools is using and benefitting from AI: https://www.projecth.org.uk/post/embracing-ai-in-education-a-leadership-perspective-from-lift-schools
Ethan Mollick on Substack: https://www.oneusefulthing.org/
AI training resources: https://createvalueschools.com/need-to-know/ai-training-resources-for-schools
10 tips for implementing AI in education settings: https://createvalueschools.com/media/210-10-tips-for-implementing-AI-in-schools.pdf 
Find recommended reads in the Creating Value in Schools bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/createvalueschools
Join the Creating Value in Schools community: https://createvalueschools.com/subscribe/
#SustainableSchools #Education #ArtificialIntelligence

‘Things don't happen overnight... You've got to be in this for the long haul.’ 
Drawing on her 15 years’ experience as a school sustainability director, Wendy Litherland shares lessons learned in getting staff, pupils, governors and community members engaged in eco-action. How do you sustain impact and bring people together? Wendy talks about:
Why making friends with the caretaker is your first priority
Building bridges with the cleaners by minding muddy feet
Learning from the wealth of experience in the PTA (as well as fundraising with them)
Getting from jumble sale vibes to a popular prom shop
The impact of a hot drink when you’re sleeping rough
Teaching children for jobs that don’t exist yet
How solar panels can be a learning resource, before they’re even installed. 
Wendy Litherland combines her role as Associate Assistant Headteacher and Director of Sustainability at Accrington St Christopher’s CE High School with being Head of Education at Solar for Schools. She is a long-term eco-champion and co-facilitator of the Sustainability Learning Conference North West.
Liz Worthen’s career in education spans teaching, training, commissioning and programme development. Creating Value in Schools is all about working sustainably: taking care of people, planet and resources to secure better outcomes for children and communities. 
What is a circular economy? https://createvalueschools.com/need-to-know/what-is-a-circular-economy
Download 10 tips for school climate activities: https://createvalueschools.com/need-to-know/10-tips-for-integrating-climate-activities
How green is your school: https://createvalueschools.com/need-to-know/how-green-is-your-school
Check your school’s solar viability: https://www.solarforschools.co.uk/
School example: https://www.solarforschools.co.uk/schools/accrington-st-christophers-church-of-england-high-school-bb5-4ay-137421
Education support from Solar for Schools: https://education.solarforschools.co.uk/
Wendy’s eco-group on X: https://x.com/Eco_Group
Find recommended reads in the Creating Value in Schools bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/createvalueschools
Join the Creating Value in Schools community: https://createvalueschools.com/subscribe/
#SustainableSchools #Education

‘Not only is it unsustainable, but it’s not delivering results.’ We bring together Benedicte Yue’s passion for inclusion with her financial expertise for a deep dive into the world of SEND. 
What’s making the current system unsustainable? What are the barriers to a more inclusive system? What would a more equitable and effective approach look like? Who can we learn from? And what needs to change in terms of accountability for this to work? 
‘We must transition from a narrow individual focus on accountability to a collaborative system.’
Benedicte Yue is Chief Financial Officer at River Learning Trust, bringing over 30 years’ experience in audit and finance to the role. Awarded CFO of the Year at the 2023 MAT Excellence Awards, she is a sector leader and champion for change.
Liz Worthen’s career in education spans teaching, training, commissioning and programme development. Creating Value in Schools is all about working sustainably: taking care of people, planet and resources to secure better outcomes for children and communities. 
Benedicte Yue’s SEND priorities paper for ISBL: https://blog.isbl.org.uk/addressing-englands-special-educational-needs-crisis-key-priorities-and-solutions  
The Centre for Education Systems’ SEND policy reports: https://www.ces.partners/send-summary 
Sam Freedman on Substack: https://samf.substack.com/ 
Sam Freedman’s Substack on TikTok politics: https://samf.substack.com/p/three-seconds (for paid subscribers)
More from Creating Value in Schools on SEND reform: https://createvalueschools.com/need-to-know/ways-forward-for-send-reform 
From Benedicte’s previous podcast: https://createvalueschools.com/blog/values-impact-and-agency-lessons-learned-in-operational-leadership/ 
Join the Creating Value in Schools community: https://createvalueschools.com/subscribe/
#SustainableSchools #Education #Leadership #SEND

‘One of the things that I'm really aware of at the moment is so many school leaders are in this stage of it feels like it's one crisis after another. The perma-crisis. One more domino and another then another.’ 
Paul K Ainsworth shares how reading emergency planner Lucy Easthope’s book Come What May: Life-Changing Lessons for Coping with Crisis resonated with his experience of what happens when things go wrong in schools.  
Drawing on Lucy Easthope’s lessons, Paul talks about the phases of recovery, the dangers of hopium, acknowledging that it takes time for things to get better, and the importance of seeking help. 
‘But I genuinely believe it will get better. And I think that anything that we can do that rebuilds our reservoirs of hope is so important.’
Paul K Ainsworth is a school improvement champion. He has supported hundreds of schools on their improvement journey in his system leadership roles across four multi-academy trusts. Paul is the author of No Silver Bullets: Day In, Day Out School Improvement and writes on Substack as No Silver Bullets Man. 
Liz Worthen’s career in education spans teaching, training, commissioning and programme development. Creating Value in Schools is all about sustainable working: taking care of people, planet and resources to secure better outcomes for children and communities. 
Listen to Professor Lucy Easthope on Desert Island Discs: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002d87s
Find Come What May in the Creating Value in Schools bookshop: bookshop.org/shop/createvalueschools
Read Paul’s blogs: paulkainsworth.wordpress.com
Find Paul’s books: paulkainsworth.wordpress.com/books
Paul on sustainable school improvement: createvalueschools.com/blog/keep-going-routes-to-sustainable-improvement-and-finding-your-why 
Join the Creating Value in Schools community: createvalueschools.com/subscribe
#SustainableSchools #Education #Leadership

What does it mean to work sustainably or build a more sustainable organisation? Is it all about the environment? Drawing on contributions from podcast guests, host Liz Worthen questions what we mean when we talk about sustainability. What are the ingredients for a sustainable organisation and development? What does that look like for schools and education settings? 
Liz Worthen is an educator, researcher, podcaster and writer. Her career in education spans teaching, training, commissioning and programme development, creating resources which enable leaders to flourish in their roles. Creating Value in Schools is about the exploration of sustainable working in education, to secure better outcomes for learners and communities.
The Triple Bottom Line: online.hbs.edu/blog/post/what-is-the-triple-bottom-line 
United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: sdgs.un.org/2030agenda 
United Nations 17 goals: sdgs.un.org/goals 
More from Creating Value in Schools: createvalueschools.com 
Podcasts featured in this episode
Seeking the co-benefits: people, planet – and financial efficiency, with Paul Edmond
Be kind: how to entice teachers and governors into our schools, with John Viner
Keep sight of your North Star: navigating the school business landscape, with Benedicte Yue
#SustainableSchools #Education #Leadership
Code: DT1NN2J7TQUOGQZT

Host Liz Worthen gets together with school business leadership champions Helen Burge and Emma Gray to find out what they’ve been up to this term. 
Questions arising include: 
Who’s responsible for income generation in a school setting?
Why does integrated curriculum finance planning (ICFP) matter?
Where can school business managers, leaders or professionals turn to for support?
How does standing in a corridor full of teenagers help restore your vitality?
What is operational excellence, and why do we need it? 
Is sherry making a comeback? 
Why young people need trusted adults in their lives. 
Both Emma Gray and Helen Burge were executive business leaders in trusts, and now support school business professionals through coaching, training and consultancy. Emma is a DfE accredited school resource management advisor, and Helen co-chairs the UK Schools Sustainability Network Operations Group. They are fans of risk management, internal scrutiny and operational excellence. 
Liz Worthen’s career in education spans teaching, training, commissioning and programme development. Creating Value in Schools is all about sustainable working: taking care of people, planet and resources to secure better outcomes for children and communities.
More from Creating Value in Schools: createvalueschools.com 
More from Justin Smith on income generation: createvalueschools.com/blog/optimism-and-opportunity-creating-an-income-generation-culture/
DfE school business professionals survey: gov.uk/government/publications/survey-of-school-business-professionals-2025
School Business Leader Support Hub: sblsupporthub.com/
Operational Excellence in Education: isbl.org.uk/opex
What does a school resource management adviser (SRMA) do? gov.uk/government/publications/the-school-resource-management-advisers-srma-programme
Find out more about the SBL retreat: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sbl-retreat-2026-reflect-restore-reconnect-tickets-1812889113139
Browse the Creating Value in Schools bookshop: bookshop.org/shop/createvalueschools
Contact Emma Gray: 1stpillar.co.uk
Contact Helen Burge: buoyantimpact.co.uk
#SustainableSchools
#Education
#SchoolBusinessLeadership

What enables people to keep calm and carry on in the overwhelming intensity of school life? What helps people keep going, avoid burnout, and stay focused on the things that matter? 
Host Liz Worthen draws on lessons learned by previous podcast guests. What keeps them energised? What keeps them going?
Start with your why.
Stay focused on your priorities.
Don’t sweat if it doesn’t all go to plan. Things will happen! 
Take opportunities for creative problem solving.
Remember to rest… and count the flowers.
‘You need to keep pulling yourself back to those as priorities. Because otherwise, your priorities are the whack a mole school of educational leadership, coming in, responding to the first person at your door, the person that sent you those emails.’
Liz Worthen is an educator, researcher, podcaster and writer. Her career in education spans teaching, training, commissioning and programme development, creating resources which enable leaders to flourish in their roles. Creating Value in Schools is about the exploration of sustainable working in education, in order to secure better outcomes for learners and communities.
Podcasts featured in this episode
Keep going: routes to sustainable improvement and finding your why, with Paul K. Ainsworth
The art of balance: survival skills for school leaders, with Josephine Smith
You can't turn off the machine: investing time in school leadership, with Caroline Doherty
Navigating the unexpected: advice for school leaders, with Josephine Smith
Avoiding and addressing staff burnout in schools, with Nicola Harvey
Know your place: how to tackle inequality in education, with Sean Harris
Further resources
More from Paul K. Ainsworth: paulkainsworth.wordpress.com  
More from Nicola Harvey: harveyheals.com 
Follow Sean Harris on Substack: thatpovertyguy.substack.com
For more ideas and inspiration: createvalueschools.com
#SustainableSchools #Education #Leadership

How do we tackle the impact of poverty and disadvantage in our schools? Is education alone enough to combat inequality? What does it mean to be furiously curious about the causes of inequality and what can we do about it? Are you ready to be a graceful disruptor?
Host Liz Worthen talks to Sean Harris, aka That Poverty Guy, about why place matters, life in the Tees Valley, what it means to be a civil architect in practice, and the importance of listening. If he had the ear of the education secretary, what would he ask for?
‘A commitment to deep social justice needs deep social listening, and that involves having to work alongside and talk to people that are facing the lived and the living reality of these issues.’
Sean Harris is Director of People, Learning and Community Engagement (PLACE) at Tees Valley Education. He’s also an author, researcher, That Poverty Guy on Substack, and furiously curious about tackling inequality.
Liz Worthen started out as an English teacher, since then working in educational programmes, professional development and publishing. Liz is passionate about enabling fellow educators to have a positive impact on the world.
Follow Sean on Substack: substack.com
Guddi Singh’s guest blog: substack.com/p/guest-blog-beyond-classrooms-and
Listen to Three Ages of Child: bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002k385
Buy Sean’s book: bookshop.org/shop/createvalueschools
Child of the North toolkits: https://www.n8research.org.uk/child-of-the-north-launches-new-campaign-as-latest-findings-reveal-worrying-trends/ 
For more ideas and resources, visit createvalueschools.com 
#SustainableSchools #Education #Inequality #SocialJustice

‘Make sure that children are there leading on these projects. Because if they're leading, then they're more likely to want to carry it on and encourage teachers, the community and their families to get involved too.’
Host Liz Worthen talks to Edd Moore about his experience of inspiring pupils with eco-projects in schools, integrating learning into the curriculum, and engaging families and communities in the process. Questions addressed include:
How do you get started on the greener school journey?
Why does waste matter?
How do you get others on board?
How do you get from a school yard wildflower hunt to a regenerated community meadow?
Edd also shares how teaching in Bali compares to the UK, and brings a whole new meaning to curriculum deep dives!
Edd Moore is an eco-schools champion. As a teacher he led his primary school to a number of awards, including the Jane Goodall Roots and Shoots Educational Institution of the Year. Edd is the author of 100 Ideas for Primary Teachers: Greener School, and combines providing eco-support to schools with his role as Head of Education at Green Schools Project.
Download 10 tips for school climate activities: https://createvalueschools.com/need-to-know/10-tips-for-integrating-climate-activities
Find Edd’s book in the Creating Value in Schools bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/createvalueschools
Eco-Schools: https://www.eco-schools.org.uk/
Green Schools Project: https://www.greenschoolsproject.org.uk/
Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots UK: https://www.rootsnshoots.org.uk/
Young Enterprise Fiver Challenge: https://www.fiverchallenge.org.uk/
Join the Creating Value in Schools community: https://createvalueschools.com/subscribe/
For more ideas, inspiration and information, visit createvalueschools.com
#SustainableSchools