Environmental & Sustainability Education (ESE)

Head of Department: Mr P Gordon

The Environmental and Sustainability Education (ESE) curriculum was developed with pupil input and based around the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is climate action focused, looking at the some of the complex issues that pupils will come across and identifying positive actions they can do.

The ESE curriculum aims to give pupils the knowledge and skills to become change makers at a personal, school and community level, as well as in their future career, in order that we create a thriving planet for nature and ourselves.

The ESE curriculum runs throughout Key Stage 3 with a lesson a half term. In year 7 it is taught by specialist teachers, in year 8 by the English department and in year 9 by the Maths department. There are also 3 curriculum immersion days, which focus on different sustainability issues run in a cross-curricula way by Maths, English and Science. Different departments have also incorporated sustainability topics into their curricula where appropriate. There are also eco assemblies once a term that raise current and relevant issues to each year group.

Sustainability is viewed in its broadest sense, as can be seen from the framework document, which was generated from research with pupils, teachers, parents, school leaders, sustainability educators and sustainability professionals.

To assess progress, a survey is sent out to Year 7 and Year 9 pupils to look at the changes in their views across the Key Stage.