November 2021
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This conference discussed proposals for a new qualification in Natural History, as well as wider considerations around incorporating the environment and sustainability themes into education provision in England.
This was a timely opportunity to discuss priorities in the context of relevant developments, such as:
- the proposal for the new Natural History GCSE, put forward by OCR, which has since been approved by the Department for Education
- campaigning by youth movements, such as Teach the Future and School Strike for Climate, to integrate further discussion on climate change into school curricula and faster action on tackling climate change
- wider discussion around policy priorities for tackling climate change ahead of the COP26 conference being hosted in Glasgow, 2021
The conference was also an opportunity to discuss the role of the education sector in improving understanding of the natural world, the practicalities of incorporating this into education, and fostering an awareness of environmental issues.
Delegates also looked at key priorities for improving carbon literacy amongst young people, particularly in the wake of the publication of the findings of the recent UN IPCC report on climate change, which sparked considerable calls for faster action to tackle climate change.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote contributions from:
- Sir Tim Smit, Co-Founder, Eden Project
- Craig Bennett, Chief Executive Officer, The Wildlife Trusts
- Paul Steer, Head of Policy, OCR
- Dr Laura Colucci-Gray, Senior Lecturer in Science and Sustainability Education, University of Edinburgh
- Dr Christina Kwauk, Education Consultant; and Author, Education International Climate Change Education Ambition Report Card
Attendees
Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places were reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and officials from Defra; the Department for Education; the Government Legal Department; the Intellectual Property Office; Ofsted; Ofwat; and the Planning Inspectorate. Representatives who also attended were from Academies Enterprise Trust; Ackworth Howard CE School; Ascentis; ASE; Autism Community Network; Bamford Academy; BBOWT; British Ecological Society; Cambridge Assessment; Cambridge Partnership for Education; Camden Council; Canterbury Christ Church University; Curious Minds; Durham County Council; Earley Environmental Group; Ellen MacArthur Foundation; Environment Agency; Forestry England; Forest School Association/ Nature Premium; Gatsby Plant Science Education Programme; Girls Day School Trust; Global Action Plan; Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust; Harris Garrard Academy; Hills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge; King Henry School; Learning Improvement Service, Education and Skills, Cumbria County Council; London Borough of Merton; National Association for Environmental Education UK; National Education Union; Natural History Museum, London; Nature Nurture; NCFE; OCR; Plumcroft Primary School, London; Royal Society of Biology; Royal Society of Chemistry; Selborne Society; Surrey Wildlife Trust; TastEd; The Hill Primary, Reading; The Learning Institute; The Open University; Trees and Design Action Group Trust; UCL Institute of Education; University of Bristol; University of Cambridge; University of East London; We Be Kids; Wellington College, Crowthorne; White Rose Academies Trust; and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.
Press passes were reserved by representatives from Satellite Evolution Group and The Environment Magazine.
