A time for change: Developing a coherent sustainability curriculum
Written by: Elizabeth Lupton and Hannah Whaites
9 min read
ELIZABETH LUPTON AND HANNAH WHAITES, PRIMARY CURRICULUM, UNITED LEARNING, UK
The Department for Education recognises the important role that education and children’s services should have in all aspects of sustainability. In their sustainability and climate strategy for the education and children’s services system, they set out four strategic aims: 1. to provide ‘excellence in education and skills for a changing world’; 2. to mitigate the effects of climate change by reaching net zero; 3. to adapt the system to the changing climate; and 4. to ensure a better environment for future generations (DfE, 2022a).
In meeting these aims, climate education is highlighted as the first key action area. It is vital that children and young people – who are increasingly concerned about climate change from a younger age – are prepared for the challenges and opportunities that they will face in the changing world. In particular, the DfE highlights the need for:
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