TEACHERS at a Wokingham school have been given top marks for their climate literacy.
Staff at Holme Grange School are the first in the world to be awarded gold for their teaching on environmental issues by eduCCate Global.
The non-profit organisation offers teacher training on climate change issues, and has worked with educators in 43 countries since 2019.
To gain the gold award, Holme Grange staff worked on a whole school policy to become a more environmentally sustainable community. It has also connected with schools in the area on environmental issues.
Teachers worked with eduCCate Global to develop a sustainability curriculum, which is followed by all Year 9 students as a timetabled lesson. The school have also introduced climate studies to Year 8.
Sustainability lead Leanne Hughes explained that pupils are graded on the course. Topics studied include climate literacy, fast fashion, sustainable cooking and climate science.
“It’s been amazing,” she said. “Students have blown me away with their ideas to solve problems in the issues we’ve discussed.
“This course is empowering them to be inquisitive, and they have really challenged me with their thoughts.”
Ms Hughes said that “amazing” opportunities have been presented by the school’s sustainability drive. These include a seat on Wokingham Borough Council’s climate emergency advisory board.
And pupils have enjoyed the course too.
One said that they “enjoyed the independence and opportunity to conduct some research, which are skills I will need when I go to university.” Another added that “it was interesting to learn about seasonal food and the impact it has on the planet.”
Headteacher Claire Robinson said that she hopes that there will be a GCSE in sustainability on offer to young people in the future. She said that it is “wonderful” that students are confident to talk about the climate change.
“At our mock COP in December last year, it was clear they had a deep factual understanding of the issues,” she said.
“Their critical thinking skills have also improved. Sustainability is at the heart of our school.”
The school is already working towards gaining platinum status.
