Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi is set to announce the introduction of a brand new GCSE qualification, this Thursday. A new natural history GCSE, the course will be launched next week, focusing on how pupils can protect the planet.
The Department for Education said that the qualification will allow pupils to learn about environmental and sustainability issues “to gain a deeper knowledge of the natural world around them”. It is also one of the first new GCSEs to be launched since the reform of GCSE qualifications in 2017.
Currently, pupils already learn about environmental issues through geography and science, but the Government said that the new course would “go further”. It will focus on the history and evolution of species, the impact of life on natural environments, as well as how they are changing and evolving.
Mr Zahawi, who is expected to announce the news, said: “Sustainability and climate change are the biggest challenges facing mankind. None of us can be in any doubt just how critical they have become. The new natural history GCSE will offer young people a chance to develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of this amazing planet, its environment and how to conserve it.”
The qualification will be available from September 2025 and will allow pupils to develop skills for future careers in conservation, “from understanding how to conserve local wildlife to conducting the fieldwork needed to identify species”, the DfE said.
“The Government will work closely with independent experts and a range of stakeholder organisations, exam boards including Cambridge OCR and Ofqual to develop the detailed content for the GCSE."
The DfE added that the Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy will set out to help “young people develop excellent knowledge of STEM and practical opportunities to improve biodiversity and climate resilience”.
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