#601: Nature Discovery Week - 29th June - 3rd July

Nature Discovery Week is going to take place at the end of June.

It's organised through the National Education Nature Park.

#512: Curriculum and Assessment Review - final report

The final report of Becky Francis' Curriculum and Assessment Review was published today.

The DfE's official response to the recommendations in that review can be seen here.

It includes this text.

Equipping children and young people to thrive in a rapidly changing world therefore means enabling them to understand and meet the global challenge that climate change presents. We will take the opportunity to enhance the climate education content which is already present in the national curriculum, in the subjects of geography, science and citizenship. We will also include sustainability within the design and technology (D&T) programme of study and sustainable practices within the citizenship primary curriculum. We agree with the Review that key concepts on climate education should be introduced earlier in the curriculum and will ensure that the relevant programmes of study contain this at primary level. 

We also want to go further on this and ensure that more people can engage with and develop respect for the natural world. 

We will therefore consult on the subject content for the natural history GCSE, as confirmed earlier this year. 

The Review noted that changes to curriculum content are only part of the picture and that teaching also has an important part to play through the use of climate-related examples and resources to teach existing curriculum content. The National Education Nature Park, funded by DfE, has a website which hosts free resources and activities for all education phases across a wide range of subjects. These are aligned to the curriculum and quality assured by experts, giving educators trusted information that allows them to teach about sustainability and climate change with confidence, in subjects where climate education is a core part of the curriculum content and in other subjects.

They also make some recommendations for Geography.

This is important as the subject content they will be consulting on has to be markedly different from that of the geography curriculum to avoid duplication.

We agree with the Review that the subject does not need significant change, and we will update and refine the programme of study and GCSE subject content with modest changes, to support pupils and teachers. As recommended, changes will support a better understanding of the disciplinary requirements in the national curriculum and in the GCSE, ensure the content is updated where needed, including in relation to climate education, and clarify and integrate the fieldwork requirements. We will also improve the GCSE subject content to support better progression, deepen understanding and remove unnecessary repetition across topics.

#428: Launch the GCSE Natural History now!

So say campaigners according to this Guardian piece from the weekend.

It could apparently be delayed until 2030....

The previous Conservative administration had supported creating the GCSE, which would teach pupils how to observe, identify and classify plants and animals.
However, campaigners have claimed the plans had been shelved by Labour because the qualification was seen as a “Tory initiative”.

In response to a letter sent by Mary Colwell, Caroline Lucas and others...

A Department for Education spokesperson said on Saturday: “We are committed to driving high and rising standards in schools and ensuring all pupils benefit from a rich and balanced curriculum that sets them up for work and life.

“Through our National Education Nature Park programme, led by the Natural History Museum, children and young people are inspired to connect with nature and develop their understanding of their own role in climate change.

“The government is currently in the process of considering the next steps for a natural history GCSE.”

Let's see what happens next...

#369: Back to School for the National Education Nature Park

...for the second year of this project... plenty of things planned during the year ahead...

They have launched a Hidden Nature Challenge to be completed in October, with a chance to win some prizes.

#328: NENP: 'Weather and Seasons'

The National Education Nature Park (NENP) is making good progress. 

Over 1000 schools are signed up now, although that means there are many thousands still to sign up. 

🌤️ The National Education Nature Park's 'Weather and Seasons: Explore' activity encourages students to observe and compare the four seasons in the UK, helping them understand the impact of various aspects of our lives.

Learn about this free resource 👉 https://t.co/8JwbOWp331 pic.twitter.com/kTntneAKRn

— RGS-IBG Schools (@RGS_IBGschools) March 9, 2024

The Weather and Seasons activity is worth checking out.  It's designed for KS1

It will be interesting to see where the National Education Nature Park and Climate Awards fit in with wider developments of the GCE Natural Histoty.

#289: National Education Nature Park - new resources

There are some new resources available on the National Education Nature Park website.

Over 1000 schools are now signed up to be part of the project, which includes a range of activities and resources for those who are signed up.

Exciting news! 🌟 1000 sites are on the #EducationNaturePark map! Each glowing dot represents a school, nursery, or college championing wildlife, connecting to nature and learning new skills. Want to join them? Get involved 👇 https://t.co/DqOYifM4OC

— NHM Learning (@NHM_Learn) April 18, 2024

Make sure you have added your school grounds to the campaign and signed up for the various updates.

British Science Week 2024 kicks off today and we're super excited to have a National #EducationNaturePark resource in the free activity packs! Download to join in 👇https://t.co/oTK0WOR6hr#BSW24

— NHM Learning (@NHM_Learn) March 8, 2024

#275: Sharon Witt and Helen Clarke

I've been inspired by so many people over the years, and particularly by the conference presentations of Sharon Witt and Helen Clarke at GA Conferences, GTE and Charney Manor over the years. 

They recently presented on how we need to give attention to place, and in particular to our interactions with the 'more than human' world.

Here's some ideas for paying attention when out on a field walk, which might be of interest when it comes to planning some walks around the schoool site and immediate area to scope out its potential for a site for fieldwork, or to take part in the various activities suggested by the National Education Nature Park.

I'm reminded of this diagram, which has been shared lots of times over the years. It was taken from a newspaper article, and linked to my local area of Rotherham where I grew up - hence my additional interest in the story. It shows how the area that young people are free to wander in has shrunk over the years. I referenced this in my GA Presidential lecture as well.

Check out the work of Attention 2 Place here.

#200: OCR Consultative Forum #1

I've had some chance to digest and read through my notes from my attendance at the first GCSE Natural History Consultative Forum. 

I have previously been a member of the OCR Consultative Forum for Geography for some years and always find the meetings valuable.

The first meeting started with introductions to people with a wide range of experience and expertise, broadly in the area of Natural History. Some of them have been involved in various stages of developing the various documents that will ultimately become the subject criteria / draft specification that teachers will work with, along with various publishers.

There were a number of discussions that followed some presentations earlier. One of them was on the National Education Nature Park which I've signed our school up to.

It ended with a few discussions, where the ideas of the forum were gathered on a number of key questions.

Here's one for you to think about.

What support would you need, and what do you think will help overcome some of the natural uncertainty about starting to teach a new specification?

This is the 200th post on this blog. 

I started it as part of my preparation for potentially teaching the new subject when it appears. There are another two hundred posts in draft, and as the 2024 develops it would be good to think that we might see the subject criteria released so that the awarding bodies and publishers can start working on resources. I have a Google Drive folder full of resources, ideas, reports, images and field guides.

I'm going to explore a few habitats during the Christmas break and aim to put together a guide to how they could be used as a focus for student exploration.

As a final aside, it was good to see the progress made on the GCSE in British Sign Language (BSL). This was first announced in 2019, and the pandemic has been blamed for the delay.

The BSL Subject Content was released a few days ago - we need the Natural History GCSE to reach this point next.

The size of the document and nature of the contents may give some indication as to what will emerge, although the nature of the subject is a lot more 'political' and contested and defining elements will be less simple.

#163: National Education Nature Park's Visual Identity

The National Education Nature Park (NENP) is a nation-wide scheme created to empower children to make a positive impact on nature, part of the suite of support which includes (eventually) the new GCSE in Natural History.

The Natural History Museum (NHM) was appointed by the Department for Education to lead the partnership, working with groups such as the Royal Horticultural Society and Royal Society, and supported by Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), Manchester Metropolitan University, Learning Through Landscapes, UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the National Biodiversity Network Trust.

Happy Friday! We're liking this playful new identity for the National Education Nature Park that captures the essence of nature and education. 📘🌳https://t.co/1wsoDx71av

— MeeCreative (@Mee_Creative) November 3, 2023

 Out of Place Studio worked on the new identity.

I really like the graphics and the overall look of the communications forming part of the development of the materials.

#111: An update from Mary Colwell: watch out for Nature Hubs

A long awaited update, which comes from Mary Colwell.

She describes the delay in the development and signing off of the subject criteria by the Schools Minister Nick Gibb.

"The criteria have now been written by the secret panel (the whole process is secret) and are now submitted and sitting with Nick Gibb, the Schools Minister. Mr Gibb has had them for many months but they have not yet been signed off, there are obviously queries to be answered and there is no time scale given when this will happen. What is certain is that this delay will mean first teaching will now be in 2026, not 2025, as there is so much to do to get schools ready.

It is a complicated business launching a new GCSE, and we know from surveys and communication with schools that there is some concern that teachers feel underconfident about teaching it. Many feel they don’t have the skills, they are worried about resources and are unsure about access to experts and even to wildlife itself."

She rightly says that the National Education Nature Park is part of the plan to make schools into nature reserves.
We are certainly planning to use the school site as a nature reserve.

She goes on to introduce another level of support for teachers who want to teach the new specification.

"Curlew Action sees the need for local, bespoke teacher and pupil training through what we are calling Nature Hubs.

A Nature Hub is a place to go to learn about being a naturalist.

It will offer training in identification skills, fieldwork, field safety, local ecology, and local natural history.

Nature Hubs will, ideally, be all over the country, connecting need with expertise. It is a big and bold idea, and we it needs blended finance to work, but we are working hard to secure it. We are putting time and effort into this as we know nature needs us to act fast."

#108: National Education Nature Park

📣 Exciting news for educators!

From 4 October, all education settings in England can join the National #EducationNaturePark!

This free programme helps young people boost biodiversity on their learning sites, develop green skills and connect to nature🍃https://t.co/bJYDy4T9bm pic.twitter.com/qprJFMqoxB

— Natural History Museum (@NHM_London) September 12, 2023

After a long period in preparation, the National Education Nature Park and Climate Action Awards site is going to be opening for schools to join in the coming week.

There is a free programme of events which will be provided. This is a programme which is associated with the development of the GCSE Natural History, but has been launched earlier than the draft specification.

An activity has been created to kick off the new resource. Join in on Wednesday the 4th of October.

Calling #teachers prepping for next week📚
Try the #EducationNaturePark Hidden Nature Challenge with your tutor or year group, PSHE, geography or science class, forest school or eco club🔎
Takes <20 mins, suitable for all ages 🧑🏾‍🤝‍🧑🏼
Join in on Wednesday 🗓️https://t.co/6n0dj8g8QI

— Jess Tipton 🌍 (@DrJessT_eco) October 1, 2023

Update 

The park featured on CBBC Newsround a day ago.

#35: National Education Nature Park - in development

I've been following the development of the National Education Nature Park, and discovered a few weeks ago that I know someone who is one of the key people involved in delivering on the project, so hoping to get a little more involved as the project develops and moves into the later stages. 

The National Education Nature Park is part of a suite of activities which are aimed at delivering on the promises of the Government's plans to help fight climate change. This is the DfE's Sustainability Strategy.

There is also a Climate Action Award Scheme for schools.

Read more about the project here on the DfE site.

And this video is helpful as an introduction to the key ideas.

Some key information:

The Natural History Museum are leading the delivery of these initiatives, in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society and supported by Royal Society (RS), Royal Geographical Society (RGS), Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), Learning Through Landscapes (LtL), UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) and the National Biodiversity Network Trust (NBNT). You can find out more information here: National Education Nature Park and Climate Action Awards Scheme | Natural History Museum (nhm.ac.uk).

The National Education Nature Park and Climate Action Award will launch in the Autumn and education settings will be able to register to participate in May.

Another video:

Children tested innovative activities for the National Education Nature Park last week, at an event at @RHSBridgewater.@esriuk created mobile apps that enabled children to map their emotions along with what they saw, heard and smelt across the gardens👇https://t.co/KBUjEDl0G9 pic.twitter.com/I7Y81bai2R

— Educate Magazine (@EducateMag) May 23, 2023

Details:

• From creating pollinator-friendly habitats, digging ponds and rain gardens, identifying wildlife or planning planting schemes, young people will choose, plan, and implement a range of site improvements and habitat enhancements based on the latest scientific evidence.
• With England’s primary and secondary schools covering an area roughly twice the size of Birmingham, this is an opportunity to empower young people to make a real difference by creating environments across the country where biodiversity thrives.
• School grounds are the most under-recorded urban habitat type in England. The partnership will be working with Esri UK to provide free geospatial mapping tools so children and young people can monitor biodiversity gains on their learning sites and in their local community.
• The partnership will deliver a comprehensive, curriculum-based set of free climate education resources, lesson plans, and schemes of work from Early Years Foundation Stage, through Key Stages 1-5 and Further Education.

#24: Wildflowers for Primary Schools for the King's Coronation

I've set up a Google Alert for the term 'GCSE Natural History' and it sent me to a recent post from the Department for Education.

They are going to be sending Wildlfower Seeds to Primary Schools around the country.

According to the blog post:

This initiative is inspired by His Majesty the King’s commitment to the environment. Working with the Eden Project’s National Wildflower Centre, over 200,000 seeds packets will be sent to schools.

If planted together, around 40 rugby pitch sized wildflowers meadows would be created. The packets of seeds include native annual wildflower species, like cornflower, corn poppy and corn chamomile.

Planting the seeds will be an opportunity for children to engage with the natural world and learn more about the importance of biodiversity, as well as being a way for them to celebrate a historic national moment.

The Eden Project has produced some educational resources, and guidance on planting the seeds.

There is also a link to the new GCSE in Natural History which I am preparing resources for, and have a dedicated blog.

You can also join over 750 other teachers on our GCSE Natural History Facebook page.

As the post says:

We’re also developing a new Natural History GCSE which will enable young people to explore the world by learning about environmental and sustainability issues, and gain a deeper knowledge of the natural world around them.

This is all part of the development of a National Education Nature Park which is in the making.