Oxford Education Deanery Sustainability Team

Dr Travis Fuchs

Travis specialises in sustainability and science education in international contexts. He applies educational research methodologies to school strategic priorities.  He started his career as a middle and high school science teacher.

Phoebe Mortimer

Phoebe is an English teacher, and the Sustainability Lead for a large Multi Academy Trust with expertise in sustainability curriculum design, teacher training and school management.

Dr Megan Murray-Pepper

Megan is a former English teacher and school sustainability campaigner. She currently works on teacher training for sustainability, including with the Institute of Education at University College London, creating sustainability curriculum materials and developing school practice. 

Dr Kim Polgreen

Kim has a background in IB education and business sustainability. She is a specialist in nature and climate education, with a particular interest in nature in school grounds, reconnecting teenagers with nature, and nature for mental health and wellbeing. 

Teacher training and resource development

• We design and deliver specialised webinars and in-person events, connecting educators with Oxford academics and university research. 
• We hold space for communities of practice for local and international sustainability educators. 
• We work with these communities to co-design content and resources.

Student education

• We support the students of the Oxfordshire Schools Sustainability Network (OxSSN), convening regular meetings for them on sustainability topics. The aim is to build their understanding of issues and solutions, their critical thinking skills and their sense of community with like-minded students from other schools.
• We work with a number of schools to support their careers advice to students on sustainability topics. 
• We provide nature education for schools and other groups. 

Support for school sustainability strategies

• We use research methodologies and business strategies to design and implement whole-school sustainability plans. 
• We provide advice and support for biodiversity enhancement of school grounds, including implementation of the National Education Nature Park, and advice on using school grounds for curriculum, and for mental health and wellbeing.

Research and consultancy

• Travis works on novel strategies for teacher and student sustainability education and how to inoculate educators against climate despair. View Travis’ full research profile.
  
• Kim is working on nature connection and mental health in wellbeing in secondary schools with the Oxford University Department of Psychiatry. 
• Megan and Kim have provided consultancy for Oxford University Press on their Sustainability Curriculum, and written a booklet for school senior leaders.

Designing a sustainability strategy for a large independent school in Canada – Travis

In response to the Active Stewardship component of the strategic plan, in 2023, I conducted an environmental sustainability and climate change learning audit. The audit probed student and staff perceptions of sustainability education, produced a comprehensive scope and sequence of learning opportunities for the entire school K-12, including co-curriculars, and provided recommendations for next steps. Audit results were presented to all staff, select students, and the Board to gain feedback and chart future directions.

Creating resources for the English curriculum – Megan

Together with Phoebe, I have designed and delivered training workshops to Oxford PGCE teacher interns and their mentors, providing a range of approaches for including environmental perspectives in their curriculum. From grammar to text choices, these workshops also promote the integration of meaningful climate and nature education with inclusion and social justice. I also work with UCL’s Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Education to create CPD modules for the ‘Teaching for Sustainable Futures’ programme. 

The National Education Nature Park at The Cherwell School, Oxford – Kim

I am working with The Cherwell School in Oxford, helping to run their Young Ecologists Club, to create an ecology garden for teaching and for student mental health and wellbeing, and supporting their contribution to the National Education Nature Park. We are using this as a case study to advise other schools. 

Webinars

• From Audit to Action – Integrating Sustainability Across School Programming. Webinar. Mar 2025
• Geographers at the Sustainability Chalk Face – Strategies for Teaching in a Changed World. Webinar [recording]. Feb 2025
• Teaching the Environment in Religion, Philosophy and Ethics. Webinar [recording and materials]. Jan 2025
• Greening the gavel: The potential of climate litigation in climate change education. Webinar [recording and materials]. Nov 2024.
• Environmental History teaching: New environmental directions in the teaching of history. Webinar [recording and materials]. Apr 2024
• Environmental English teaching: New environmental directions in the teaching of literature. Webinar [recording]. Mar 2024
• Legal action for the climate: The role of schools, teachers, and students. Webinar [materials]. Nov 2023

Teacher training and resource development 

• Doing Brilliant Biology and Ecology Fieldwork in your School Grounds. After-school workshop. Apr 2025
• Teaching English in the Context of the Climate and Nature Crisis. Interactive workshop for PGCE English interns. Nov 2024.
• Outdoor learning and alternative provision. Day conference. Jul 2024
• Teaching English in the Context of the Climate and Nature Crisis. Interactive workshop for PGCE English interns. Nov 2023.
• Sustainability education colloquium. Multiday conference. Jul 2023