Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 70
70
Paragraph: 341
For biodiversity to be protected, it has to be appreciated and valued.
Conclusion
For biodiversity to be protected, it has to be appreciated and valued. But our increasing detachment from nature stops many of us knowing and directly experiencing it. This starts at a young age; children are spending less and less time outdoors. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds and ethnic minorities have particularly low access to green spaces. Education is a crucial lever to address this and mend our relationship with nature. The Government’s Children and Nature Programme went some way in increasing access opportunities, but the impact of the coronavirus has meant even fewer children have had access to nature this year. To address this 126 Biodiversity in the UK: bloom or bust? a transformation in the education system is needed towards one where children from an early age to adulthood are encouraged to experience, celebrate, and learn about nature. Governments, businesses, and organisations also need to recognise the value of nature; this again starts with education.
Paragraph Reference:
341
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
(31a) The Department for Education (DfE) is exploring the option of introducing a new GCSE in Natural History after receiving a proposal from exam board OCR. Initial discussions with OCR have taken place. DfE, and Ofqual, will determine whether the proposal meets all the necessary conditions to sit alongside our rigorous suite of reformed GCSE qualifications. We have made no commitment to introduce the GCSE at this stage. In the immediate future the qualifications team at DfE and colleagues at Ofqual are focusing their efforts on ensuring that all students are able to be assessed fairly this summer and on planning for a return to exams in 2022. (31b) DfE recognises the significant benefits that learning outside the classroom can have for children’s mental health and wellbeing, as well as their educational and social development. We are committed to ensuring that no child or young person loses out because of the pandemic. We have worked to ensure that our outdoor education centres were included as part of the lifting of restrictions so that children are now able to access those outdoor education centres residentially as well as for day visits. Enrichment activities that give pupils the opportunity to develop their intellectual, emotional, personal, and social skills can support well-being and success both in and outside of the classroom, nurturing a feeling of belonging and sense of purpose. The Government’s support for education recovery targets both academic and extra-curricular activities.