The National Curriculum Review marks a significant shift toward embedding climate change across education.
It identifies these areas as essential applied knowledge and skills for preparing learners for a rapidly changing world, framing climate education as an entitlement aligned with national and international climate literacy goals. The review emphasises the Climate Crisis and the need for students to understand environmental systems and their roles within them, while linking this knowledge to green skills and future employment opportunities.
Summary of Core Recommendations:
- Elevate climate and sustainability to a core applied curriculum area.
- Integrate climate concepts across key subjects (Science, Geography, Design & Technology, Citizenship).
- Improve curriculum sequencing to enhance visibility and mastery of environmental themes.
- Empower teachers with guidance, resources, and dedicated space to teach climate topics effectively.
- Embed outdoor and nature-based learning, along with extracurricular sustainability experiences, as part of educational enrichment.
While some critics argue the review lacks the urgency required by the climate emergency, others welcome it as a major step toward universal climate education across all key stages. For schools, this review offers a clear framework to strengthen climate literacy, enrich learning experiences, and prepare students for active roles in shaping a sustainable future.
Try This in Your Classroom:
Ask students to review the five core recommendations from the National Curriculum Review and design a “Climate Across the Curriculum” plan for your school. They can map out where sustainability topics fit into different subject areas and propose one outdoor or enrichment activity for each subject. This encourages cross-curricular thinking and practical application of climate education.
