In today’s post, Sue James reflects on the Westminster Education Forum policy conference held on 18th May 2022. The focus was: Green and climate education in England – sustainability and action on climate change in the curriculum, outdoor learning, and priorities for further study and skills. As with all our blogs what is written does not necessarily represent the…
The DfE’s new models – The Economst has a feature on the DfE’s innovative way of changing the curriculum. Rather than the bother of having to go to parliament to enact primary leglislation, it is using the device of a “model curriculum”. One of these already exists (music) and another is in the offing (history). A third, primary science, is promised. As…
In a blog for Carbon Brief, Andrew Charlton-Perez, professor of meteorology and head of department at the University of Reading argues that there are gaps in how UK schools teach students about climate change. This post coincided with Reading’s recent Climate Education Summit. The post begins: “While the impacts of global warming are already being felt across…
Dr Suzanne Major, who specialises in the anthropology of early childhood education, has written a series of posts for the eePRO webpages of the North American Association for Environmental Education [NAAEE]. This is an extract from her thoughts on Beyond Scaffolding in Early Childhood Education and Education to the Environment: “Let me share an exert…
GreenComp – The EU has published a European sustainability competence framework: GreenComp. This identifies a set of sustainability competences to feed into education programmes. The framework defines the four competence groups that should be acquired by learners of all ages related to sustainability. These are: [i] embodying sustainability values; [ii] embracing complexity in sustainability; [iii] acting for sustainability; and [iv] envisioning…
Here’s more news from Natural England by way of relevant evidence and reports, policy agenda developments, large scale delivery sector initiatives, resources and news items from the UK and abroad, with a focus on schools, education and learning. This supports the Strategic Research Network for People and Nature to develop better coherence and collaboration in…
Here’s what the DfE says about its new awards: “The Department is looking for a successful lead provider, or consortia, to successfully deliver the following key areas of activity: 1. A prestigious National Education Nature Park that will drive and increase in engagement with nature for all children and young people whilst also developing their…
More NAEE Manifesto Reviews – So far there have been a number of comments on the NAEE Manifesto on naee.org.uk, and you can find the latest here (Richard Jurin) and here (David Dixon). There will be more. If you’d like to comment please just let us know. . UKSSN – The UK Schools Sustainability Network (UKSSN hosted by Global Action Plan) is an umbrella group…
It’s with sadness that report that Geoffrey Hopkinson died recently, age 94. Geoff was appointed as Adviser for Environmental Education in Staffordshire in 1969 at a time when environmental education was not only emerging from its rural studies background across England, but also becoming established internationally. NAEE was created in 1971 out of the National…
The first issue of DfE’s Climate in Education Snapshot is now available. DfE will send these updates to provide information on [i] what it is currently working on to make its strategy a reality; [ii] what is coming up soon; and [iii] how we can get involved with DfE. The first includes a welcome from Rt Hon…
This is the latest in a number of reactions to the recently published NAEE Manifesto. It’s from Dr David Dixon, author of Leadership for Sustainability (saving the planet one school at a time). As ever with our blogs, what is set out here is not necessarily the view of the Association. Two things strike me…
The Queen’s Speech – Last week’s announcement of the government’s proposed legislative programme said this: “Reforms to education will help every child fulfil their potential wherever they live, raising standards and improving the quality of schools and higher education [Schools Bill, Higher Education Bill].” . The HE Bill has a focus on skills. Details are…