DfE Strategy Launch – The DfE published its strategy on sustainability and climate change this week. You can read the policy paper that accompanied this here.
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The DfE Strategy – You can read what DfE says about its strategy here.
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Reactions to the DfE Strategy – Here are views from the National Governance Association, Teach the Future and the NEU. You’ll find others here. As more emerge we shall add them to our website.
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GCSE Natural History – A GCSE in natural history was announced last week by the DfE and it forms a core part of the Department’s new strategy. This is how NAEE covered the announcement.
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NAEE President Responds – NAEE President, Prof Justin Dillon, comments on the Natural History GCSE here. He says that the announcement shows the lukewarm approach to environmental education that has characterised the DfE’s curriculum unit for far too long.
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GCSE Natural History Reactions – Anyone who was at the launch of the DfE’s sustainability and climate change strategy could have been under no illusion about the centrality of the GCSE in natural history to the strategy. In curriculum terms, there was little else on offer – apart from the model primary science curriculum which nobody mentioned. We have reported a range of comments on the GCSE here.
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Tucson Calls – The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) will host its 51st Annual Conference (October 12–15) and 19th Research Symposium (October 11–12) in Tucson, Arizona, with virtual options available. NAAEE’s Call for Presentations is open until April 29th, seeking compelling proposals to address this year’s theme, “Educating for Change.” You can learn more here.
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SDG4.7 – Douglas Bourn (DERC) and Jenny Hatley (Bath Spa University) invite us all to the online launch of a new Our Shared World Coalition report. The report gathered evidence of the extent to which the themes of Sustainable Development Goal Target 4.7 are being engaged with within schools in England, examining how they are being delivered, areas of success, identifiable gaps, and what the priorities for policymakers should be in the future. The Zoom event is on 16th May (5pm). It’s free, and we can register here.
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Connecting Classrooms – More reports are now available as part of the Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning Practitioner Research Fund series.
- Simpson, J. (2022). Exploring the transformative potential of specific pedagogies on pupils’ awareness and critical understandings of global issues
- Reid, K. (2022). A global partnership from the perspective of the Southern school: Perceptions, pedagogies, and the power of love.
- Roots, A. (2022). Do teachers see global school partnerships as a tool to deliver antiracist and inclusive approaches?
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Action for Conservation – Summer camps for young people, aged 12-16, who live in England and Wales, are available in three of the UK’s national parks this July and August. These offer young people an opportunity to connect with nature, explore the outdoors and take part in activities like stargazing, campaigning workshops and bat walks. Please contact: challenge@actionforconservation.org
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Climate Change Analysis – The Economist publishes regular climate updates. Here is the latest with features on the UK energy strategy, the latest IPCC report, and whether a 1.5 degree target is still realistic.
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Being Pretty Ruthless – In an article for the Inkcap Journal, Patrick Galbraith argues that the future of nightingales depends on deer hunters. This feature is an extract from In Search Of One Last Song: Britain’s Disappearing Birds and the People Trying to Save Them, a new book by Galbraith. It will be published on April 28th.
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Taken at the Flood – Simon Waldman from the University of Hull, writing in The Conversation,explains that, although tidal power hasn’t delivered on its potential yet, that will likely change.
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Manifesto Launch – NAEE is launching its Young People’s Learning and the Environment Manifesto on April 28th. The Manifesto sets out 16 commitments that we think will help guide institutions to become more sustainable, and improve the education that pupils and students receive. We also set out four principles on which the Manifesto is based which we think are at the heart of what is important for schools and colleges to do in relation to young people’s learning and the environment. The Manifesto will be on line on our curriculum guides page before the event begins.