Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 23
23
Accepted
Paragraph: 101
In school, education on climate change and environmental sustainability is limited to a few subjects.
Conclusion
In school, education on climate change and environmental sustainability is limited to a few subjects. It is important that it is included across all courses to give all students a basic grounding in environmental issues and to show how their subjects can be useful in tacking environmental challenges, whatever sector they go on to work in. This will ensure the future UK workforce is climate and sustainability literate. A greater awareness of environment and sustainability across the population could lead to increased diversity of people entering green sectors, contributing to the Government’s ambitions for a more diverse and inclusive green workforce.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government states that climate change and environment topics are already included in citizenship, science, and geography curricula, with flexibility for schools. It also highlights a draft Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy to improve climate education, including support for teachers and a Model Curriculum for Primary Science.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
101
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
Topics related to climate change and the environment are already included within the citizenship, science and geography National Curricula. This provides key learning to all students, but the curriculum also offers flexibility and we are seeing excellent work in this space at all levels in many schools. The draft Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy announced by DfE at COP26 sets out activity to improve climate education. This includes support for teachers including continuous professional development for Science at Primary and Secondary and a Model Curriculum for Primary Science. DfE are carrying out engagement with relevant stakeholders on the draft strategy ahead of the launch of the final strategy in April 2022. This includes a climate education-specific user group.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗