School of life

NEW NATURE-BASED GCSE TO FINALLY GO AHEAD

The government has just confirmed that a new 'Natural History' GCSE, first announced in 2022, could finally be taught in schools in England, as part of their curriculum reforms and they have launched a consultation on its content.

The Department of Education are proposing that the core areas of study will be UK wildlife and habitats, human influence on the natural world and climate change, biodiversity loss and conservation. They said that a deep understanding of UK habitats and wildlife is at the heart of the new qualification and have proposed that natural history GCSE students will spend a minimum of 20 hours learning outdoors, exploring "real habitats, from urban parks to coastal salt marshes".

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: "As we move into a world where careers are being increasingly shaped by science, technology and environmental change, it's crucial young people have the skills for the jobs of tomorrow.

This new GCSE will help students build a strong understanding of the natural world, alongside the knowledge, skills and hands-on experience to access careers in some of the UK's fastest growing sectors."

She added: "With extensive fieldwork built in, the GCSE will also get young people out and about exploring local parks, rivers and more - a critical part of childhood as more and more of our worlds are taken up by screens."

Pupils, parents and teachers can share their views on the proposed content via a 12-week government consultation, running from 9.30am on Friday 12th June to Friday 4th September 2026.