Climate Literacy Survey

The Department for Education’s (DfE) 2024 Climate Literacy survey talked to just over 500 year 11 pupils.  The results have been reported widely and indicate that school leavers were found to struggle with understanding the impact climate change could have on the UK and how the effects could be mitigated.

It is reported that The Geographical Association, which represents thousands of teachers of geography, believe that the survey shows the need for climate change to be included in the curriculum for primary pupils and for teaching to be strengthened at secondary schools.

The DfE survey found 55 per cent of school leavers remembered learning about climate change in their final year, but 17 per cent could not remember ever being taught about climate change and 24 per cent said they were last taught about it when they were 15 or younger.

A DfE spokesperson said they are “determined that the curriculum and assessment system will change so that every child has the tools they need to achieve and thrive.”

The Department for Education (DfE) require that by this year, all education settings will have nominated a sustainability lead and put in place a climate action plan, irrespective of whether they are maintained schools or academies. However the National Governance Association (NGA) has estimated that many schools have yet to engage at all with environmental sustainability.

The Department for Education (DfE) is clear that senior decision makers, SLT and governors should support and drive school sustainable activity.