Climate & Nature Education
At Graveney we want to deliver a Climate and Nature (C&N) education that will ensure our students are comprehensively informed about these important issues as well as be inspired to take impactful action.
We believe that the issue of climate change is one that must be viewed as a shared concern - not the preserve of a political allegiance, generation or sector of society. The issues wrought by climate change will need to be addressed by everyone if they are to be resolved.
Action to address climate change is required both locally and globally. As such we will educate students on both the global challenges playing out that will need to be addressed on a wider systemic level as well as on the roles they can play more locally both within our school and in London and the wider community to stimulate and participate in meaningful action.
Whilst C&N will be largely taught through individual subjects, learning about climate change and sustainability should be integrated with and referenced throughout the curriculum. Just as the effects of climate change will be felt in many different areas, the multifaceted solutions will need to arise from different disciplines.
We aim for the curriculum to be issues-led but solution focussed with student voice playing an ongoing role in the development of the curriculum. Through the curriculum we seek to develop students’ sense of empowerment and self-image as changemakers through positive action.
Climate and Nature Learning at Graveney
The guiding principles for embedding Climate & Nature Education within the Graveney curriculum are:
Interconnectedness
- All students will gain a level of Climate Literacy that reflects the overarching interconnectedness of the climate crisis and the natural world so that they can understand the links across different disciplines.
- Although understanding of the scientific and factual components of Climate Change will be driven by the Geography and Science curricula, opportunities will be sought throughout all subjects to discuss topics from a holistic environmental perspective that illustrates the interconnected nature of the subject.
- Opportunities will be created to build awareness of the interconnected nature of social and racial injustice and the ecological crisis – both nationally and internationally.
Appreciation of nature
- We recognise that nature-deficit disorder is growing amongst young people and that this can impact their development, mental health and views on nature.
- Opportunities will therefore be sought to ensure that all students are able to appreciate the natural world. This will include outdoor education enrichment opportunities (e.g. Outward Bound and DofE) as well as classroom and other whole school initiatives
Optimistic and Solution Driven
- Our curriculum should engender a sense of awe and wonder in both nature and human ingenuity. Students will have opportunities to learn about the ways in which humans all over the world are working with and through nature to solve complex issues.
- Students will be taught to develop the skills necessary to be proactive in trying to effect positive change in policy – both locally and more widely. They should believe their voices can make a difference and be empowered to use them.
- A wider understanding of negative emotions brought about by environmental news will shape curriculum and pedagogical decisions. Eco-anxiety is recognised and we will develop resources to support emotional resilience.