the Department for Education (DfE) launched a public consultation on the new Natural History GCSE. After a number of delays, a change in government, and a review of the entire curriculum, it is brilliant to see progress being made. The consultation closes on Friday 4 September, giving schools, parents, pupils and industry the opportunity to respond.
Read the press release on GOV.UK:
See the consultation on Citizen Space:
The new GCSE is intended to help prepare students for a world increasingly shaped by environmental change, a need identified by the curriculum review. Covering topics such as UK habitats and wildlife, climate change, biodiversity loss and conservation, the course will give pupils a strong foundation in understanding the natural world and humanity’s impact on it.
Students will complete a minimum of 20 hours of fieldwork, in habitats local to them, exploring real-world environments such as parks, rivers and coastal areas. This hands-on learning will help develop essential skills in data collection, analysis and evidence-based thinking. With nature-related industries expanding and demand for sustainability skills on the rise, the GCSE aims to open up new pathways into environmental and science-based careers.
