First Climate Change Teachers in the world certified Gold begin work toward creation of Climate Change GCSE!
Holme Grange School has become the very first school to be awarded the eduCCate Global Gold Award for their work on sustainability and climate change issues. The Gold status is a real game changer.
Holme Grange teachers are the most highly skilled Climate Literacy proficient teachers on the planet who have been instrumental in reframing the narrative around climate change issues so that they are now “outrageous opportunities” for students to grasp. Mrs Claire Robinson, Headteacher, says “It’s important that students don’t feel like climate change is their responsibility or a burden.”
Leanne Hughes, Holme Grange’s Sustainability Lead Teacher, said “It’s fantastic to see how passionate our students are. Their understanding of these issues is excellent, they want to be activists and aspire to spread awareness to others.”
This is a particularly proud moment for the School given the United Kingdom’s recently announced commitment to climate change education following COP26. Nadhim Zahawi, Education Secretary said: “We want to deliver a better, safer, greener world for future generations of young people and education is one of our key weapons in the fight against climate change. Empowering teachers in every school to deliver world-leading climate change education will not only raise awareness and understanding of the problem, but also equips young people with the skills and knowledge to build a sustainable future.”
“By working with eduCCate Global we have been empowered to write a new scheme of work. Hopefully there will be a Sustainability GCSE on offer for young people in the near future”, said Mrs Robinson. The school achieved its Silver Award in 2021 and has exceeded all expectations to be awarded Gold.
At Holme Grange School, awareness around climate change has been embedded into all classrooms and Year 9 students follow a sustainability curriculum. Mrs Robinsonsays, “It has been wonderful to see our students growing in confidence when talking about these issues. In our Mock COP [December 2021] I was delighted to hear their thoughts – it was clear they had a deeper factual understanding and, in turn, their critical thinking skills have improved. Sustainability is at the heart of our school and our young people motivate me and the staff to keep striving for more progress.”
Holme Grange is also the very first school in the UK to be a fully functional eduCCate Global Hub School. To gain this accolade, the School has demonstrated real action and connection with schools in the area and has worked diligently through the processes of working towards becoming a truly sustainable school.
“Partnering with Holme Grange School has enriched our eduCCate Global Awards program through mutual learning. We are so proud of their achievement and look forward to continuing to deepen the teachers’ confidence and capacity to support their students for climate action. Climate change education is not just about picking up litter,” says Melanie Harwood, co-founder eduCCate Global.
The School is extremely proud of this Award and has already begun to pilot a 15-week scheme of work called Radical Renewal that will form part of the eduCCate Global Platinum Award. The launch included a live session with Professor Henry Mintzberg, discussing Rebalancing Society where 75 Year 9 students had the opportunity to talk to him about what rebalancing society is and what it would mean in the context of climate change. Students have spent the last term increasing their carbon literacy and exploring a wide range of issues, including fast fashion, with a view to transforming them into outrageous opportunities. The students will present their favoured projects to each other. The top three as judged by students and teachers will present to a panel of esteemed judges in a live streamed event hosted by eduCCate Global.
For more information or to arrange an interview members of the Holme Grange or eduCCate Global teams please call: Hannah Thomas, Holme Grange on +44 (0) 0118 978 1566 or Melanie Harwood, eduCCate Global on +44 (0) 7595 099 144.
Holme Grange School’s mission is to inspire achievement beyond the bounds of expectation where everyone can succeed. [www.holmegrange.org]
eduCCate Global teachers were the first Climate Change Teachers in the world. Since 2019, eduCCate Global, a not-for-profit, has been teaching teachers and enabling climate action. 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).
mock COP footage: https://educcateglobal.org/student-voice/
Professor Henry Mintzberg delivers lesson on Rebalancing Society to 75 Year 9 Pupils, Holmegrange School:
Claire Robinson recently took part in two prestigious education panel talks:
Schools and Academies Show, Panel - Scaling up the climate curriculum and sustainability in all schools:
Westminster Forum: Greening The Curriculum
Images from Holme Grange School’s, Mock COP, December 2021 (In The Media Library)