Manorbier CIW Primary School, Pembrokeshire, is the first school in Wales to receive the eduCCate Global Bronze Award for climate literacy, now an eduCCate Global Centre of Excellence!
“We are all absolutely delighted to have achieved the eduCCate Global Bronze Award and to be an eduCCate Global centre of excellence. This award is very fitting for the journey we are on with the New Curriculum for Wales. We are always looking for ways to bring teaching and learning to life and throughout this project we have further developed our expertise to enhance our student centred, experiential learning Curriculum. Our pupils and staff have worked so hard! Our pupils have developed foundation skills and are ready to begin their journey as net zero transitioneers. Our staff have enhanced their knowledge and begun teaching climate literacy,” said Mrs Sharon Davies, Head Teacher and Climate Literacy Leader, about what the school’s team have accomplished. “We sincerely thank Melanie and all the eduCCate team for their enthusiasm, drive and inspiration. Everyone is very much looking forward to achieving the eduCCate Global Silver Award”.
The Director of Education for Pembrokeshire County Council Mr Steven Richard-Downes recognised Manorbier CIW Primary School’s accomplishment: “Congratulations to Sharon and all the staff, pupils and governors on their recent good news. It is great news to hear that Manorbier is the first school in Wales to achieve the eduCCate Global Bronze Award. Very well done to all involved.”
“We are absolutely delighted that Manorbier School has been awarded this. It is no surprise that such a forward thinking school should be putting the future of all children first” said Mrs Joan Stace, Chair of Governors..
Melanie Harwood, co-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.”
Manorbier CIW Primary 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 actively learning all they can about 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 Manorbier CIW Primary 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, co-Founder of the not-for-profit eduCCate Global.
Mrs Sharon Davies and the Sustainability and Climate Literacy Leadership Team, 5 staff members from across the school community, are leading climate change education at Manorbier CIW Primary School, and 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” Inset Training to all staff at Manorbier School so they too can begin to build their climate literacy
delivering a number of Carbon Footprint Buster Challenges to involve and activate Manorbier School students and their community.
Here’s what two of the Sustainability and Climate Literacy Team Members had to say about the impact of the training:
“This will help enormously in all aspects of teaching and learning. The training has enabled me to make sure that climate change and environmental concern are central to helping the children become ethical, empowered citizens.” Mrs Sharon Stace Smith, KS2 Teacher and Literacy specialist.
“I have really enjoyed the Climate Change courses. In particular, the Sustainable Diet and Climate Change module. I feel a lot more confident to deliver lessons and to spark up discussions in my class when teaching and learning about climate literacy.” Mrs Martina Roberts, Foundation Phase Teacher and Coordinator.
For more information or to arrange an interview with Mrs Sharon Davies and/or Melanie Harwood at eduCCate Global, please call: Sharon Davies, Manorbier CIW School on 01834 871228 or Melanie on +44 (0) 7595 099 144.
eduCCate Global teachers are 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).