The Resource Revolution Centre
Competition.
Coming 2026/2027
UK national competition for Earth Stewardship.
Our Competition and Circular Economy and Sustainability Planning page
Join Our The Resource Revolution Centre
The Resource Revolution Centre is an Eco Waste Park Competition Journey – Academic Year 2026/2027
This page is designed to support all primary school teachers as you embark on the journey of our exciting competition, starting in Autumn 2026
You’re welcome to join us at any stage!
Entry forms will be available from the Spring/Easter break , so keep an eye out and get ready to inspire your learners to create, innovate, and make a difference!
Contents of the page
The Competition Brief and Prizes
How we will support this learning journey
Tailored Learning and Teacher notes
Learner Led Assembly Resource
The 12 pathways of the Circular Economy
Resources to support the learning
The Competition outline availiable now
All About The Competition
Please Register
Last Years Competition
Supported by the Charity
The Chartered Institution Of Wastes Management
2025
The Prizes - visit the prize page Update for 2026/7 coming soon
Three age Group categories
SEND – mainstream and unit
Lower Primary
Upper Primary
Download entry form and submission guidelines
Please register your school by email
Stating
School and Staff contact details
info@thesustainablesacademy.com
Please complete form below before sending entry
How will we support you planning on this journey to deliver from Summer term through to Autumn term 2025?
We will provide a range of resources to help you deliver the competition through any of these interdisciplinary areas within the curriculum.
Eco Schools
UNCRC
Citizenship
PSHE
Our goal is to empower young people to take the lead in this topic, project, or competition within the primary setting. We also aim to lighten your workload by providing everything you need. You'll find learning starters, objective-driven lesson plans, and a wealth of free resources to support you every step of the way.
We will tailor The Learning and Resources
This competition will dovetail into the learning and curriculum of the four nations of the UK.
Saving teacher time and energy .
Recommended Class Readers
to go with our competition
Embed this learning into the whole of your Topic IDL learning
Iron Man
Upper Primary
We like this as a graphic Novel too .
Themes of reuse and repair: The Iron Man, a creature made from scrap metal, embodies the idea that discarded materials can be part of something purposeful, even heroic. It’s a perfect entry point for discussions about recycling, upcycling, and reducing waste.
Conflict and peace: The tension between humans and the Iron Man—and later, the arrival of the Space-Bat-Angel-Dragon—offers a framework to discuss conflict resolution, environmental ethics, and what it means to be a responsible global citizen.
Hope, change, and collaboration: The children’s role in saving the Iron Man speaks directly to youth empowerment, one of the key messages in sustainability education. It shows that solutions to global problems begin with empathy, creativity, and teamwork.
This novel supports deep literacy work and critical thinking while naturally integrating key concepts from the UN SDGs, especially responsible consumption and production, peace and justice, and climate action.
Using The Iron Man as a core text within a Resource Revolution centre or theme brings the circular economy to life for learners aged 7–11 in a way that’s imaginative, emotional, and unforgettable.
Wild Robot
Mid Primary
What happens when technology meets nature? The Wild Robot by Peter Brown explores this question in a way that is both moving and relevant—making it a perfect class reader to accompany your Resource Revolution Centre or sustainability competition.
This story of Roz, a robot who crash-lands on an uninhabited island and learns to live alongside wild animals, is a brilliant narrative gateway into sustainability learning. Here’s why:
Nature and technology in harmony
Roz’s journey from outsider to integrated member of the island community reflects the potential for technology to support rather than harm the environment. It opens up meaningful conversations about green tech, ethical innovation, and sustainable design.
Circular thinking and adaptation
Roz is made from human-made materials—but she learns from and gives back to the ecosystem around her. This mirrors the circular economy principles of rethinking resources, reducing waste, and adapting to change.
Empathy, resilience, and systems thinking
Learners explore systems thinking as they watch how each character—plant, animal, or machine—is part of a larger, interconnected world. Roz’s empathy and the animals’ responses to change promote values at the heart of global citizenship and Earth stewardship.
Supports cross-curricular learning
From literacy to science, technology, design, and even wellbeing, The Wild Robot supports rich, interdisciplinary teaching. It sparks creativity for learners taking part in a Resource Revolution design challenge, while also embedding sustainability in a narrative they care about
The Repair Shop Series
Lower Primary
If we want young learners to value our planet’s resources, we need to help them fall in love with fixing, mending, and cherishing what we already have. The Repair Shop picture book series—based on the beloved BBC show—is a beautiful and accessible way to do just that.
For schools running a Resource Revolution Centre or competition, these picture books offer more than nostalgia—they introduce learners to sustainability through heart, story, and hands-on thinking.
🔧 Celebrates repair as a form of love and responsibility
Each story focuses on fixing a treasured object, showing that repair isn’t just practical—it’s emotional, creative, and respectful. This aligns perfectly with the values of the circular economy and responsible consumption.
Supports early systems thinking
The books naturally introduce the idea that objects have lifecycles. By extending their use, we reduce waste and conserve materials—a great foundation for understanding resource loops and sustainability.
Encourages problem-solving and maker mindsets
As learners explore mending toys, restoring instruments, or repairing clocks, they’re inspired to think like designers and tinkerers—exactly the mindset we want to develop through a Resource Revolution competition.
Nurtures intergenerational learning and empathy
Each story in the series connects people across generations, highlighting the value of storytelling, memory, and respect—core to community-based sustainability.
Perfect for Early Years through lower KS2 (ages 4–8), this series grounds the big idea of the circular economy in small, meaningful stories that young learners can relate to—and act on.
Our Activity
YouTube version Why enter?
If you don’t want to present with our PPT, we have recorded the slides and provided a voiceover for you to share with staffs
Learner Led Pack
Great for your...
Eco Teams
UNCRC Ambassador
Climate Ambassadors
Slide Show Presentation For Student training
This is a power point that can be edited – it is designed for teachers to train young people in Primary Lead the competition
Local Economies and Communities
- Encouraging community-based solutions, such as sharing schemes and local repair hubs.
- Reduces transportation emissions and strengthens community resilience.
- Enhances local job creation and economic stability.
Environmental Impact and Resource Conservation
- Measures to protect ecosystems by reducing extraction and pollution.
- Conserving finite resources through efficient use and recycling.
- Reduces carbon footprint and mitigates climate change.
Citizenship and Global Responsibility
- Encouraging individuals to understand their role in global sustainability.
- Promoting ethical consumer behavior and active participation in sustainability efforts.
- Links local actions to global impacts.
Food Systems
- Focus on sustainable agriculture, food waste reduction, and local sourcing.
- Circular solutions like composting and regenerative farming.
- Enhances food security and reduces environmental impact.
Circular Technologies and Innovation
- Developing and using technology to support the circular economy (e.g., AI for waste sorting, biodegradable materials).
- Fosters advancements in renewable energy and resource-efficient systems.
Circular Economy in Outdoor Learning
- Using hands-on activities in nature to teach circular economy concepts.
- Examples include creating compost, reusing materials in outdoor art, or exploring ecosystems’ natural cycles.
- Builds connection to nature and reinforces stewardship values.
The Regenerative Economy
explained
Supporting educators in understanding how natural and industrial systems support our biosphere, resources and climate
Phenomenon Questions a great way to start Learning
Phenomenon Questions
Foundation Stage /Nursery
Four topics
Biodiversity
Innovation
Social Impact
Waste Management
Phenomenon Questions
Lower Primary / Level 1/ KS1
Four topics
Biodiversity
Innovation
Social Impact
Waste Management
Phenomenon Questions
Upper Primary / Level 1/ KS1
Four topics
Biodiversity
Innovation
Social Impact
Waste Management
Staff Meeting Presentation of the competition
Supporting our peers in delivery of the competition
Learning Plans
Scotland
Level 1 &2
Planning document to support a series of weeks learning .
Learning plans Wales
Progression 1,2 &3
2&3 are live
Planning document to support a series of weeks learning .
SDGs and UNCRC applied to our
Resource Revolution Centre Competition
