Blog Special Issues
A BERA Blog special issue from the British Curriculum Forum
Over recent years, the climate crisis has become an accepted scientific fact, and around the world, children and young people have become some of the most vociferous activists for a more sustainable future. How should the climate crisis and the push for sustainability shape the school curriculum? This question was addressed at a British Curriculum Forum (BCF) event held on 16 November 2023. The event brought together education professionals from different systems and sectors in education to share their critical perspectives on, and practical implementation of, curricula for sustainability. It was also an opportunity to hear from the winners of the 2022 BCF Curriculum Investigation Grant with the theme: ‘Developing a curriculum for climate and sustainability education’.
The collective insights from the event and this special issue of the BERA Blog that it has inspired underscore a pivotal shift towards embedding sustainability and climate education in school curricula.
The contributions to this blog special issue explore:
Over recent years, the climate crisis has become an accepted scientific fact, and around the world, children and young people have become some of the most vociferous activists for a more...
It’s a pleasure to have been asked to give an overview of work on sustainability and climate education both at the BERA/British Curriculum climate crisis event on November 16 2023 and for this...
Education is central to addressing climate change (UN, 2023), but it is often left to science and geography. Recent research (Monroe et al., 2019; Rousell & Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles, 2020)...
Figure 1: Against the grain This illustration uses the metaphor of a monoculture to conceptualise the interplay of systems, drawing parallels between education and agriculture. I created this...
Sustainability means different things to different people, depending on where they live and what they do, so context is king. In our work on sustainable foodscapes, we use the idea of a ‘double...
The importance of connecting with nature using an arts-based approach Connecting with nature has shown huge benefits to our mental and physical wellbeing. Learning about nature also offers deeper...
While global attention is focused on the need to mitigate climate change, it is noticeable that the debate is largely conducted by those with power about what others should be doing about it. As...
Imagine someone who has lost the physical existence of the place where he was born and brought up. As a child, he used to roam around freely in the fields and neighbourhoods of his birthplace, a...
In order to better prepare children and young people for a future which is significantly altered by changes in global climate systems, sustainability education needs to be enhanced (Rushton et...
Professor of Education/Research Degrees Leader at University of East London
Gerry Czerniawski runs the Professional Doctorate in Education at UEL and teaches on Initial Teacher Education (ITE) courses. In addition to his role as a researcher, author and teacher educator he is the Lead Editor of the BERA Blog and a...
Co-headteacher at Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam
Sarah Seleznyov has worked in London schools for over 25 years and is now leading a brand new primary school in Newham. She has led a Teaching School, been a Deputy Head, a School Improvement Consultant and School Improvement Partner. She also...
Sustainability means different things to different people, depending on where they live and what they do, so context is king. In our work on sustainable foodscapes, we use the idea of a ‘double...
Continue reading blog postFigure 1: Against the grain This illustration uses the metaphor of a monoculture to conceptualise the interplay of systems, drawing parallels between education and agriculture. I created this...
Continue reading blog postIn order to better prepare children and young people for a future which is significantly altered by changes in global climate systems, sustainability education needs to be enhanced (Rushton et...
Continue reading blog postEducation is central to addressing climate change (UN, 2023), but it is often left to science and geography. Recent research (Monroe et al., 2019; Rousell & Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles, 2020)...
Continue reading blog postThe importance of connecting with nature using an arts-based approach Connecting with nature has shown huge benefits to our mental and physical wellbeing. Learning about nature also offers deeper...
Continue reading blog postWhile global attention is focused on the need to mitigate climate change, it is noticeable that the debate is largely conducted by those with power about what others should be doing about it. As...
Continue reading blog postIt’s a pleasure to have been asked to give an overview of work on sustainability and climate education both at the BERA/British Curriculum climate crisis event on November 16 2023 and for this...
Continue reading blog postImagine someone who has lost the physical existence of the place where he was born and brought up. As a child, he used to roam around freely in the fields and neighbourhoods of his birthplace, a...
Continue reading blog postOver recent years, the climate crisis has become an accepted scientific fact, and around the world, children and young people have become some of the most vociferous activists for a more...
Continue reading blog post
