Your sustainable schools education team

We support schools throughout Leicester on environmental and sustainable education. Your main contact is Marc Tench, sustainable schools manager for Leicester. Working alongside Marc is education officer Vicky Brown.

Further information

Marc, Sustainable Schools Manager

I am a former geography teacher, working for 16 years at schools in Birmingham, London and most recently Warwickshire, where I was also Key Stage 3 co-ordinator for Geography.  I have a Masters in Education and I have recently completed a Post-graduate Certificate, part of an MSc in Wildlife and Conservation Management.

Prior to this role I worked part time as a recreation ranger for Forestry England, where I managed visitors, maintained trails, and worked with volunteers at a site in the National Forest. I have been a school governor for a number of years and I am also now chair of governors at a primary school in Leicester.

As sustainable schools manager I aim to support all schools across Leicester to become more sustainable in everything that they do, helping them to reduce carbon, adapt to climate change, and engage young people with nature.

Contact details 

Marc Tench, Sustainable schools manager
Phone: 0116 454 6746  
Email: marc.tench@leicester.gov.uk 

Vicky, Education Officer

After graduating with a BSc in Environmental Science, I have worked as a field studies tutor and forest school leader for the last 10 years. I have lived in various locations around the UK, teaching environmental education and field studies to all ages. I previously worked in the community team at Leicester City Football Club as their outdoor learning coach, where I taught forest school sessions in over 50 schools across the county.

My main outdoor interests are ecology and wildlife, especially birds, butterflies and dragonflies and bats, but I also love plants and gardening too so am always happy to chat about nature with people!

At Leicester City Council, I am taking the baton as the Eco-schools education officer, where I hope to work alongside schools taking part in the Eco-schools programme. As a previous Eco-schools participant and assessor, I look forward to meeting everyone and getting to see the fantastic work being done to make the world a greener and more sustainable place.

Contact details

Vicky Brown, Education officer

Phone: 07501 808 330

Email: victoria.brown@leicester.gov.uk

Laura, Education Officer

I am former primary school teacher where I taught predominantly in upper KS2 for nearly four years. I was also the PE coordinator for the school where I pushed to improve children’s overall health and wellbeing through initiatives such as the daily mile. Before teaching, I graduated with a BSc in Psychology and a Primary with Maths Specialism PGCE.  

I love working with young people and helping them to understand the world around them in fun and exciting ways. I have been involved in the Scout Association for many years now and have held different roles within Loughborough district, helping to inspire young people to become more aware of the world around them. I am currently a Beaver Scout Leader but still support in other areas of the movement when possible.  

I am now the Eco-schools education officer, where I will mainly be supporting schools to move through the  Eco-Schools awards. I am really looking forward to getting to know individual schools and helping to engage young people in understanding more about the current climate crisis.  

Please note Laura is currently on maternity leave.

Contact details

Laura Barke, Education officer
Phone: 0116 454 7156
Email: laura.barke@leicester.gov.uk