Chew Valley School Prepares Pupils for Net Zero Transition Jobs and Leads Climate Change Education in Bath and North East Somerset with the eduCCate Global Bronze Award for climate literacy
Gareth Beynon, Headteacher, commented that ‘Chew Valley School is thrilled to have gained the eduCCate Global Award in Sustainability and Climate Literacy which has showed the commitment that the school and importantly the students have to this vital area. Many students have already contributed in a positive manner and we are looking forward to continuing our work going forward.’
Phil Heath, School Governor said, ‘Climate change and sustainability are issues that will dominate the lives of today's young people. The Governors at Chew Valley School are passionate about ensuring that pupils are prepared for their future, and gaining the eduCCate Global Bronze Award is seen as a critical step in enabling the teachers to meet that challenge.’
Melanie Harwood, Founder of the not-for-profit, eduCCate Global, explains the context of the initiative further: “Children are far more vulnerable to climate-related disasters and associated health risks than any other social group. We need to give them the tools to understand the effects of a changing climate so that they can take well informed and effective action in the future. Now, more than ever, schools need to take the lead in helping our youngsters make sense of the issues and options.”
Chew Valley School is ahead of the curve in addressing the climate change education challenge that was repeatedly echoed at and following COP26. For example, Larry Flanagan, General Secretary, Educational Institute of Scotland and President, ETUCE, European Region of Education International has said: “We have to ensure that the teachers have the knowledge they need to deliver effective climate education and not assume that that knowledge is there already… the world has moved on… We need to make sure teachers have the knowledge and then the professional development to take that knowledge into the pedagogical approaches in the classroom to engage young people in the classroom in …[the climate] agenda.”
The eduCCate Global Bronze Award is the first bold step in building a coherent whole school approach to climate change that is designed to build schools’ confidence and capacity to deliver high impact solution focused climate change education. Schools who undertake the eduCCate Global Awards program are committed to being a leader in their community, and to fuelling climate action.
“We are so pleased that Chew Valley School chose to work with eduCCate Global as they embark on this critical journey. We know from experience that a step-by-step approach helps teachers build their confidence and capacity to be allies for students as they face the uncertainty of our climate challenged world and prepare for their futures.” said Melanie Harwood, Founder of the not-for-profit eduCCate Global.
Rose Taylor and the Sustainability and Climate Literacy Leadership Team, 5 staff members from across the school community, are leading climate change education at Chew Valley School, but they are not alone. To achieve the eduCCate Global Bronze Award, the Sustainability and Climate Literacy Team completed a rigorous program of training including:
completing 5 teacher-adapted UNITAR climate change courses and the “How to teach climate change inset training”
delivering a “How to teach climate change” workshop to all staff at Chew Valley School School so they too can begin to build their climate literacy
delivering a number of Carbon Footprint Buster Challenges to involve and activate Chew Valley School School students.
Rose Taylor, team leader stated, ‘It’s been empowering for the whole school to be involved in this programme. Every member of our community has engaged with becoming more climate literate in order to take positive action.’
‘We are delighted to have been awarded the bronze award! The students and staff worked so hard and are dedicated to our school’s journey to becoming carbon neutral. Here’s to working on the Silver Award!’ Liz Shuttleworth, Head of geography and support team member.
For more information or to arrange an interview with Rose Taylor and/or Melanie Harwood at eduCCate Global, please call: Charlene on 01275 332272 or Melanie on +44 (0) 7595 099 144.
www.chewvalleyschool.co.uk
eduCCate Global teachers were the first Climate Change Teachers in the world. eduCCate Global, a not-for-profit, has been teaching teachers and enabling climate action, since 2019. Our coherent whole school approach builds knowledge and confidence incrementally over time. We are creating the best and most accessible climate change teacher training and support for teachers, globally. Today, 429K teachers in 43 countries have experienced at least the entry level Climate Change Teacher training! Their students are benefiting by developing the knowledge, skills and confidence to thrive and lead the change that the world needs now. (www.educcateglobal.org).