Building Resilience Where It Matters: Climate Adaptation for Schools and Students
Bekki Parrish, Mott MacDonald, Assciate Climate Resilience

Mott MacDonald is proud to have partnered with Sheffield City Council on Built for Change, a programme that so far has helped 12 schools strengthen their resilience to climate impacts. Following record temperatures of nearly 40°C in 2022, the project has supported schools facing urgent risks from overheating as well as other climate hazards such as flooding. The collaboration brought together experts in engineering, nature‑based solutions, and planning to develop tailored and practicable Climate Adaptation Plans for each site. As a result, all twelve schools secured funding to deliver their priority actions, creating safer, healthier environments for pupils and staff.

Arup Climate resilience
Manon Dangelser, Arup, Senior Climate Resilience Consultant

Schools across the UK face increasing climate risks including overheating, flooding and water scarcity. While climate adaptation strategies are becoming more common, there is limited understanding of how these translate into delivery across school estates. This presentation shares lessons from climate adaptation work across the education sector, drawing on Climate Adaptation Plans developed for London schools and follow-up engagement with borough climate officers and school stakeholders. The session will explore which adaptation measures are being implemented, the barriers schools face, and how adaptation can be better integrated into estates and facilities management to strengthen resilience across the education estate.