In the lead up to COP26, UK-based specialist insurer and ICMIF member Ecclesiastical has been encouraging brokers to speak to their education clients about managing climate change risks as new research* reveals three quarters (76%) of UK school leaders believe their school is unprepared for the climate emergency.
The UN’s IPCC 2021 report warned that human-influenced global warming is already affecting many weather and climate extremes such as heatwaves, flash flooding and droughts.
The research revealed nine in 10 (89%) school leaders are concerned about how climate change may impact their school.
Of those concerned, the impact of extreme weather to school grounds (33%) was cited as the biggest concern, followed by managing heatwaves within the school environment (31%), impact on staff safety (30%) and school closures due to extreme weather conditions (30%). The impact of extreme weather to school property (29%) and coastal erosion impacting school grounds (28%) are also key concerns.
Extreme weather is already affecting many schools in the UK. Most recently, in September, schools in the Wirral area were forced to close due to the impacts of torrential rain, thunderstorms and flooding.
Brokers play an important role in advising education clients about the risks they may face and how best to protect their schools.
Faith Kitchen, Customer Segment Director at Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: “As one of the leading insurers of schools in the UK, Ecclesiastical is passionate about supporting the education sector. Our latest research has found the majority of school leaders are concerned about how climate change may impact their school and three quarters feel their school is unprepared for the climate emergency. The climate emergency presents serious risks to schools and the impact of extreme weather on school properties and grounds are key concerns for school leaders. Brokers play an important role in helping education clients understand the risks they face and in ensuring they have the right cover in place.”
Ecclesiastical Insurance offers a range of risk management support and guidance to help brokers speak to their education clients about how to manage the risks they face. For more information, visit the Hub for Education.
Ecclesiastical recently launched a new proposition, Ecclesiastical Smart Properties, which uses cutting-edge technology to discreetly monitor for escape of water and electrical fire risks in real-time. Schools piloting the technology will also have the option to expand the system to monitor other types of risks and solve a range of problems including improving energy consumption and carbon footprint reduction at an additional cost.
*The survey was commissioned by Ecclesiastical Insurance and conducted by OnePoll with 275 UK head teachers, bursars and governors from 3 September – 15 September 2021.
