In a time of ecological crisis and growing concern around children's disconnection from nature, this new qualification speaks volumes about the society we have created.
I so agree with you Charlotte about grieving the need for a subject to study, rather than a totally immersive childhood experience. I am delighted that attention is being paid to the crisis that we are living in, and need for connections with the natural world, we all need nature in our lives.
I completely agree with you Charlotte. Have you heard of the forest schools in Denmark? I lived there for four years, and I was blown away by how deeply they encouraged children to connect with the natural world around them, not just as a place to play, but as something meaningful that could shape their lives.
It’s heartening to see that we’ve begun to recognise our missing link to nature here in the UK, but I worry it still might not be enough. There’s so much we could learn from the Danish approach.
About time! This should be a compulsory part of education. I feel very sorry for any children who never experience the beauty and freedom of our amazing natural world. I feel very old saying this, but I am so glad that I also grew up in the 80s and 90s, and the outdoors was a very big feature of my childhood.
What a wonderful GCSE, however as an ex leader in schools unfortunately I know it is not likely be taken up by many schools for a variety of reasons but mainly due to teacher shortages, efficiency drives, numbers and what schools are judged on by governments. Even if it
Made available it will be relegated to an option choice and rely on students choice to take it over other subjects. There are so many wonderful GCSEs out there like astronomy but they are pushed to the sidelines, mainly due to how education is run in this country by the government. It is also sad that it becomes another subject that is examination based. Exams don’t serve our children. There needs to be a bigger overhaul of education overall to ensure that nature and living with the Earths cycles are embedded instead of this examination driven culture that doesn’t really serve anyone. It is a step in the right direction that it’s been acknowledged for sure but unfortunately it won’t serve to solve a bigger societal problem.
I totally agree it’s the way we need to go though. My own upbringing was quite different too xx
I entirely agree! Hopefully having a GCSE in Natural History can encourage more children to see the possibility of a carrer in conservation / natural history and may even help to re-invigorate University Botany and related departments which have sadly declined in recent years.
Thank you, Charlotte, for expressing so eloquently the change that has occurred and the potential good that this qualification may bring. I wish that there were even this level of acknowledgment of the importance of the natural world here in the USA. You offer hope to us!
There is nothing in the western way of living to suggest to a child that nature has value. Nothing. If children are not engaged then it's because their parents are not engaged. It's not "the new generation", it's the generation before and the generation before that who lost their engagement. Introducing this as a curriculum subject will make it even less interesting for kids. How does your culture - your society - treat nature? Like a resource. Like it treats its kids.
I so agree with you Charlotte about grieving the need for a subject to study, rather than a totally immersive childhood experience. I am delighted that attention is being paid to the crisis that we are living in, and need for connections with the natural world, we all need nature in our lives.
I completely agree with you Charlotte. Have you heard of the forest schools in Denmark? I lived there for four years, and I was blown away by how deeply they encouraged children to connect with the natural world around them, not just as a place to play, but as something meaningful that could shape their lives.
It’s heartening to see that we’ve begun to recognise our missing link to nature here in the UK, but I worry it still might not be enough. There’s so much we could learn from the Danish approach.
I haven’t Dan, but will definitely look into that. There is a lot we can learn from the Scandinavian approach to most things!
Wow good for the UK though! We need that across the pond!
It is probably needed in lots of places now, sadly!
Bittersweet isn't it!
About time! This should be a compulsory part of education. I feel very sorry for any children who never experience the beauty and freedom of our amazing natural world. I feel very old saying this, but I am so glad that I also grew up in the 80s and 90s, and the outdoors was a very big feature of my childhood.
What a wonderful GCSE, however as an ex leader in schools unfortunately I know it is not likely be taken up by many schools for a variety of reasons but mainly due to teacher shortages, efficiency drives, numbers and what schools are judged on by governments. Even if it
Made available it will be relegated to an option choice and rely on students choice to take it over other subjects. There are so many wonderful GCSEs out there like astronomy but they are pushed to the sidelines, mainly due to how education is run in this country by the government. It is also sad that it becomes another subject that is examination based. Exams don’t serve our children. There needs to be a bigger overhaul of education overall to ensure that nature and living with the Earths cycles are embedded instead of this examination driven culture that doesn’t really serve anyone. It is a step in the right direction that it’s been acknowledged for sure but unfortunately it won’t serve to solve a bigger societal problem.
I totally agree it’s the way we need to go though. My own upbringing was quite different too xx
I entirely agree! Hopefully having a GCSE in Natural History can encourage more children to see the possibility of a carrer in conservation / natural history and may even help to re-invigorate University Botany and related departments which have sadly declined in recent years.
Thanks for writing about this. Important.
So long overdue! I only hope it will be rolled out by the time my children are doing their GCSEs. I think they will enjoy it.
I hope it is too - I'm a bit gutted my son is too old. I would make it compulsory!
This is good news xx
Thank you, Charlotte, for expressing so eloquently the change that has occurred and the potential good that this qualification may bring. I wish that there were even this level of acknowledgment of the importance of the natural world here in the USA. You offer hope to us!
There is nothing in the western way of living to suggest to a child that nature has value. Nothing. If children are not engaged then it's because their parents are not engaged. It's not "the new generation", it's the generation before and the generation before that who lost their engagement. Introducing this as a curriculum subject will make it even less interesting for kids. How does your culture - your society - treat nature? Like a resource. Like it treats its kids.