This week’s news round up is deliberately brief as befits the end of Summer. It focuses on DfE, Ofsted, COP28 and EAUC developments. Concrete Things – As if dealing with dodgy concrete weren’t enough for the DfE, after Claire Coutinho went on to higher things, a new education minister has had to be appointed. David…
Nature Parks – Here’s the latest information about the National Education Nature Park and Climate Action Awards – and about grant eligibility for Nature Park and Climate Action Awards funding allocations. . KS2 LEGO – The Natural History Museum and LEGO offer a 5-part course for KS2 students through which they explore human impact on the planet using the example of birds;…
Berkshire Warming – Did you go to the Festival of Education back in July? NAEE Trustee, David Dixon, reflects on his experience of the event. . Nature Park Update – On 12 July staff from the Natural History Museum and the Royal Horticultural Society ran a live online 30-minute broadcast aimed at teachers so they could prepare for how their setting might…
COP28 News – There will be a Youth, Children, Education and Skills day at COP28. The COP28 Presidency has announced its two-week thematic programme which will be “geared towards real world solutions that close the gaps to 2030 and respond to the Global Stocktake”. As a result, December 8 2023 will be the first time there is a day…
ESD-Net 2030 – On May 31st, the Unesco Learning Webinar welcomed over 300 participants as part of the four workshops on personal leadership for change, creative problem-solving, and play-based activities. The sessions were led by ESD partners: Soneva Namoona, the World’s Largest Lesson, Global Schools Program, and WWF Sweden/Kenya, who facilitated conversations and activities on a variety of pedagogical…
IUCN Webinar – On Monday (July 31st), the monthly IUCN webinar is an update on the DfE Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy presented by Dr Laura Soul and Dr Jade Gunnell. Sign on details here c/o Eventbright. . Spark of Active Citizenship – Young Citizens has a vision of a society where people are empowered to shape their communities and institutions to…
Natural History – We hear that the DfE will – after much delay – finally be putting its proposals for a new GCSE in Natural History out for public consultation. We wonder how much of the original proposal has survived. Do keep an eye out for it – and for confirmation that there will be a parliamentary Select…
No Plan in Place – A new National Audit Office report on the DfE gives an overview of the approach taken by the Department to environmental sustainability. It covers: the DfE’s approach to delivering and overseeing its sustainability strategy, the progress in the first year of its strategy and in meeting environmental obligations, and its capacity to influence…
Green Economy – The FED has launched its National Education Consultation Report 2023 – Its title is: Towards a long-term plan for education. The report says this on page 8: “The future of our young people is tied to the future of the planet. Not only is climate change the biggest priority for this generation, but it is also changing…
Climate Action – Details of the Department for Education’s sustainability leadership and climate action plans initiative have been published on line. The DfE strategy states: “By 2025, all education settings will have nominated a sustainability lead and put in place a climate action plan”. This includes early years settings, schools, multi-academy trusts, colleges, and universities. Sustainability leadership could be a…