I did not to the latest Westminster Education Forum event on May 18th. It was a tour d'horizon of "green and climate education in England – sustainability and action on climate change in the curriculum, outdoor learning, and priorities for further study and skills".
It was the usual speakers piled high and seats sold expensive model. The cost was £210 plus VAT per delegate for an on-line event, although there were cost-reductions for the poor.
I've put the programme at the end of this post. There were 16 speakers (plus opening and closing remarks). Many of these will have had 5 minutes or less to say something useful; just enough time, the cynic in me thinks, to do a bit of throat clearing followed by institutional self-promotion.
I see that the bloke from the DfE got 25 minutes to explain away the Department's strategy, while the ubiquitous Tim Smit had the same amount to tell us (again) what's wrong with education – nothing that lessons from the Eden Project cannot fix of course.
Ludicrously, Marc Fuster Rabella, an analyst in the Centre for Educational Research and Innovation at the OECD's Directorate for Education and Skills, got only 10 minutes to speak about "international best practice in green education". 10 minutes ...
What you do note, however, is the complete absence of certain voices: young people, activist NGOs, the teacher unions, DfE critics, … .
What does that say?
| 9.05 | ‘The trouble with education!’
Sir Tim Smit KBE, Co-Founder and Executive Vice Chair, Eden Project Questions and comments from the floor |
| 9.30 | Creating a framework for sustainable education
Dr Leigh Hoath, Senior Professional Practice Fellow and PGCE Science Lead, School of Teacher Education, Leeds Trinity University; and Chair, Sustainability and Climate Education Strategy Response Working Group |
| 9.40 | Implementing a vision for green and climate education - resources and support, teacher training and professional development, and the outlook for the primary model science curriculum
Marianne Cutler, Director of Curriculum Innovation, Association for Science Education Dr Adam Read, President, Chartered Institution of Wastes Management Sarah Dukes, English Teacher and Sustainability Co-ordinator, The Chase School, Malvern Jill Duffy, Chief Executive, OCR |
| 10.00 | Questions and comments from the floor |
| 10.25 | Break |
| 10.30 | Provision of outdoor learning - accessibility and inclusion in green spaces, the National Education Nature Park and the role of education estates, and opportunities for partnerships
Mark Castle, Chief Executive, Field Studies Council Professor Nicola Walshe, Executive Director, UCL Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Education Mary Jackson, Head of Education and Communities, Learning Through Landscapes Esther Chesterman, CEO, National Extension College Questions and comments from the floor |
| 11.15 | Chair’s closing remarks
Nadia Whittome MP, Member, Environmental Audit Committee and Sponsor, Climate Education Bill |
| 11.20 | Break |
| 11.25 | Chair’s opening remarks
Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, former Leader, Green Party of England and Wales |
| 11.30 | International best practice in green education
Marc Fuster Rabella, Analyst, Centre for Educational Research and Innovation, Directorate for Education and Skills, OECD |
| 11.40
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Priorities for further study and skills - progression pathways and partnerships, improving employability, and meeting green skills needs in an expanding jobs market
Lee Wray-Davies, National Manager, Speakers for Schools Josie Murdoch, Senior Policy Officer, Aldersgate Group Gareth Williams, Founder, Caplor Energy Luke Moss, Project Manager, Exeter College |
| 12.00 | Questions and comments from the floor |
| 12.25 | Break |
| 12.30 | The Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy and the path forward for green education
Jonathan Dewsbury, Head of the Sustainability and Climate Change Unit, Department for Education Questions and comments from the floor |
| 12.55 | Chair’s and Westminster Education Forum closing remarks
Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, former Leader, Green Party of England and Wales Sean Cudmore, Deputy Editor, Westminster Education Forum |
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