We’ve been very busy with our campaigns across the UK and are eager to update you on our work. We rely on volunteers and your support means a lot to our campaign.
What’ve we been up to in the individual nations?
Scotland
- The Scotland team updated our asks for the Scottish Government to improve climate education, these were last updated in 2020.
Our new asks are:
- Mainstream inclusion of climate justice education across the curriculum;
- Inclusion of the climate emergency and ecological crisis in teacher education and a new professional teaching qualification;
- Increased priority for sustainability in school inspections;
- Educational buildings are put at the front of the queue to be retrofitted to net-zero standards.
- You can read more about the Scotland asks in detail here.
- Following these updates, the team held a Parliamentary Reception to present the updated asks at Holyrood, Edinburgh (the Scottish Parliament). The event was a huge success, you can read more about it in this blog on our website.
- Currently, the team is reaching out to MSPs and groups related to education and climate justice across the country for action on our asks.
Wales
- The Wales team have been working on updating their asks (both in English and Welsh) in response to the new Curriculum for Wales and developments in Welsh education and climate policy. The asks are in their final stages with input from several Welsh education and climate groups.
- The asks will be presented at a Parliamentary Reception at the Senedd Cymru (the Welsh Parliament) on the 28th of June.
- With the Parliamentary Reception in just over a month this is an exciting time to be a part of the campaign and we always welcome new volunteers (more information on how to sign up below).
England
- A review of the sustainability strategy, which, whilst an important step forward on the part of DfE, includes few measurable targets and deadlines, with the majority of the strategy being recommendations rather than requirements.
- The implementation of the Climate Education Bill, which, if passed, would integrate climate change throughout the curriculum and require agencies like Ofsted to help ensure this.
- Improved teacher training on climate change and climate anxiety to help better prepare them to teach such a complex topic.
- More funding for the net-zero retrofitting of education buildings, to ensure that education settings are model solutions for the climate crisis being taught.
- Check out our blog post for more information, or see the full asks.
- With the new asks our team has been securing meetings with several prominent members of parliament, including Bridget Phipson (Labour Shadow Education Secretary) and Ed Milliband (Labour Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Net Zero), where we’ll be trying to push for our asks to be included in the labour party manifesto. Keep an eye out on our socials for upcoming meetings, and let us know if you have anything else you think we should bring up!
- Members of our campaign team are featured in a short documentary interrogating the current state of climate education called ‘Bothered’. You can tune in and watch a screening on Wednesday 24th at 6:30pm via Zoom, register using this link.
Northern Ireland
- Our Northern Ireland campaign has been on hiatus for the past month. We’re currently looking to bring in more volunteers and student staff who can support creating another successful Teach the Future campaign. If you’re interested in being a part of this please email us at hello@teachthefuture.uk
Upcoming ways to involved
We’re always working on our next steps and evolving the campaign to suit the needs of climate justice education across the UK.
Join our webinar
As supporters of our work, we’d like to invite you to our upcoming webinar where you can learn more about our ‘Curriculum for a Changing Climate’.
Taking place on Thursday 25 May, 4-5pm (BST). We will be launching our new set of subjects and you will hear from:
- Students from Teach the Future on the importance of this project;
- Academics leading our 'tracked changes' subject reviews and how they have completed these;
- Teachers who have already been using the revised curriculum, how they have been using it and the impact of this.
Register now to receive the joining details!
Upcoming vacancies
From the 26th of June, we will be recruiting for National Organiser roles with Teach the Future, across the UK.
This 6-month role would make an excellent professional development opportunity for a student or young person aged 14+, who has experience of the education system in Northern Ireland, and is interested in climate justice and campaigning. We will support the successful candidate to manage their responsibilities to minimise impact on their education, and their wellbeing will be prioritised. We're not expecting applicants to know everything from day one and take-on all the responsibilities listed in the role profile as this will vary from person-to person, and to support you, mentoring, training and development opportunities will be provided within the role.
Find out more and apply from the 25th of May - details will go live on the SOS-UK Jobs Page (deadline 19th June).
What can you do to further support Teach the Future?
As a student:
- Become a volunteer and help shape our campaign, you can register your interest here, and we’ll be in touch.
- Ask your school/college/university to promote and support Teach the Future by becoming a supporting organisation - it’s free for them to do this!
- Email your MP/MSP/MS using our form. Make sure to personalise it if you have time, make it clear that they represent you and this is an area of concern!
- Follow us on social media
Twitter - @_teachthefuture
Instagram - @_teachthefuture, @ttf.scot, @ttf.wales, @ttf.england
Facebook - Teach the Future
As an adult supporter:
- Share and promote Teach the Future with your networks, such as friends, family, colleagues or any volunteer groups in your area.
- Email your MP/MSP/MS using our form. Make sure to personalise it if you have time, make it clear that they represent you and this is an area of concern!
- We fully appreciate that not everyone has disposable income right now, if you do and would like to support our work through a donation you can do so here.
- Follow us on social media
Twitter - @_teachthefuture
Instagram - @_teachthefuture, @ttf.scot, @ttf.wales, @ttf.england
Facebook - Teach the Future
That’s all from us for now, we look forward to giving you more updates and insights very soon!
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If you want to get in touch you can email us at: hello@teachthefuture.uk
For nation specific enquiries contact directly:england@teachthefuture.uk, scotland@teachthefuture.uk, wales@teachthefuture.uk
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