Policy & Practice: Education for Sustainable Development Page 69 THE WHOLE-SCHOOL APPROACH TO EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: FROM PILOT PROJECTS TO SYSTEMIC CHANGE

The policy rhetoric surrounding education for sustainable development (ESD) consistently advocates a holistic and integrated approach to the implementation and practice of ESD in the formal education system. It is increasingly apparent, however, that this approach is not commonly adopted with positive examples largely limited to pilot projects or model schools implemented under the auspices of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or individual advocates of ESD, rather than in a systemic and coordinated manner. This article will outline a whole-school approach, to ESD that includes examples where such an approach has been successfully implemented and highlights some of the key challenges that must be addressed to make the widespread adoption of the whole-school approach to ESD a reality. Whole-school approach A whole-school approach to ESD calls for sustainable development to be integrated throughout the formal sector curriculum in a holistic manner, rather than being taught on a stand alone basis. This philosophy support