Climate change

Calls for review of ‘undervalued’ climate education

A third of secondary teachers did not believe they spent enough time teaching about climate change

A third of secondary teachers did not believe they spent enough time teaching about climate change

The next government should commission an independent expert review on climate education which is currently “undervalued and underrepresented”, an exam board has said. 

Cambridge University Press and Assessment said the expert-led review should collect evidence on the climate knowledge youngsters need, then work out how to embed that into the education system. 

They claim climate education is “undervalued and underrepresented in the curriculum”.

A Teacher Tapp survey commissioned by the organisation found about 35 per cent of 6,100 secondary teachers did not believe they spent enough time teaching the issue.

About 40 per cent of these teachers said they required more resources.

The Department for Education previously said the core concepts are taught in primary school, while climate change is covered in science, citizenship and geography in secondary schools. 

But Christine Özden, global director for climate education at Cambridge University Press and Assessment, said: “Effective climate education must become available to students at every age and stage if we are serious about confronting this multi-generational challenge.

“The next UK government must review the curriculum and work in partnership with the sector to find creative ways to embed high quality climate education, and to support teachers to deliver it well.”

A new GCSE in natural history is set to be taught from next year, following a campaign by Cambridge and its English exam board OCR.

The government also pledged to introduce a primary model science curriculum to “introduce climate change as a concept to children in a coherent way” in 2023. However, this has not yet been published.

Labour has pledged to commission a full, expert-led review of the curriculum and assessment if it wins the next general election.

Latest education roles from

Chief Education Officer (Deputy CEO)

Chief Education Officer (Deputy CEO)

Romero Catholic Academy Trust

Director of Academy Finance and Operations

Director of Academy Finance and Operations

Ormiston Academies Trust

Principal & Chief Executive

Principal & Chief Executive

Truro & Penwith College

Group Director of Marketing, Communications & External Engagement

Group Director of Marketing, Communications & External Engagement

London & South East Education Group

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

AI Safety: From DfE Guidance to Classroom Confidence

Darren Coxon, edtech consultant and AI education specialist, working with The National College, explores the DfE’s expectations for AI...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

How accurate spend information is helping schools identify savings

One the biggest issues schools face when it comes to saving money on everyday purchases is a lack of...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Building Character, Increasing Engagement and Growing Leaders: A Whole School Approach

Research increasingly shows that character education is just as important as academic achievement in shaping pupils’ long-term success. Studies...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Educators launch national AI framework to guide schools and colleges

More than 250 schools and colleges across the UK have already enrolled in AiEd Certified, a new certification framework...

SWAdvertorial

More from this theme

Climate change

Two thirds of schools have no sustainability lead, poll suggests

Teacher Tapp poll suggests schools lagging behind on targets as wider strategy is being revised by Labour

Ruth Lucas
Climate change

Government ends school decarbonisation grants scheme

Programme to lower school energy bills will not be awarding any more grants, it has been confirmed

Shane Chowen
Climate change

1,000 volunteers needed for school climate ambassador scheme

Expanded scheme, first launched two years ago, to help 2,500 education settings with climate action plans

Samantha Booth
Climate change

The DfE’s 29 new school climate change policies

The Department for Education has published its draft climate strategy today to become the “world-leading education sector in sustainability...

John Dickens

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *