This is the text of a letter that the (now ex-) Secretary of State for Education \u2013 Gavin Williamson \u2013 sent to Teach the Future's campaign co-ordinator, Tess Corcoran:<\/p>\n
7 September 2021<\/p>\n
Dear Tess,<\/p>\n
Thank you for your letter of 21 July, regarding climate change education\u00a0and the Education (Environment and Sustainable Citizenship) Bill.<\/p>\n
I am sorry not to have previously had the opportunity to meet with you,\u00a0and for the postponement of the planned meeting with your colleagues. \u00a0I would like to propose a roundtable meeting with Teach the Future and\u00a0other climate youth organisations on 13 September. \u00a0My office will be in\u00a0touch with further details in the coming days.<\/p>\n
In response to the points you raise in your letter, I would like to reassure\u00a0you that we are indeed serious about climate education, and I recognise\u00a0the role of my department in preparing young people for a changing\u00a0world.<\/p>\n
While my department does not support the Bill proposed by Lord Knight\u00a0of Weymouth, we do agree with the sentiment, as the Parliamentary\u00a0Under Secretary of State for the School System, Baroness Berridge,\u00a0stated in her speech in response to the reading of the Bill in the House\u00a0of Lords.<\/p>\n
We feel that a curriculum, based on knowledge, that covers climate\u00a0change in science and geography lessons will best equip pupils with a\u00a0thorough understanding of the issues. Pupils will then be able to apply\u00a0this knowledge, contextually, when in the workforce and as part of their\u00a0wider lives. Many schools have excellent approaches to teaching\u00a0climate change within these subjects, and teachers can access\u00a0continuing professional development (CPD) as part of the nationwide\u00a0network of Science Learning Partnerships. We are investigating how\u00a0this best practice might be shared.<\/p>\n
I welcome the interest in climate education at the upcoming Conference\u00a0of the Parties (COP). As part of the Global Education Summit, I recently\u00a0convened a meeting with international education ministers to discuss\u00a0our shared priorities and challenges with regard to climate change and\u00a0education, and the resilience of the education sector. I look forward to\u00a0leading and participating in further conversations in the preparation of,\u00a0and at, COP26.<\/p>\n
I understand that you are in close contact with officials in my\u00a0department concerning an event that would bring together education\u00a0and environment ministers at COP26 and I look forward to hearing\u00a0more about those plans as they progress.<\/p>\n
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support\u00a0and engagement with the Sustainability and Climate Change Unit within\u00a0the department. A key aim of the sustainability and climate change\u00a0strategy currently under development is \u2018excellence in education and\u00a0skills for a changing world\u2019. Your views on how we best prepare young\u00a0people for a changing world and ensure they are equipped with the right\u00a0knowledge, understanding and skills, will be most welcome.<\/p>\n
Thank you for writing on this important matter.<\/p>\n
............................................<\/p>\n
The positive tone of this is striking and is quite a contrast with DfE actions over many years. \u00a0I hear that this positivity this came through in the meeting that Williamson had with the Teach the Future team a couple of days before he was sacked. \u00a0Now that the S of S has gone the way of all politicians (here today and gone already), I wonder what the new one will have to say about all this \u2013 especially now that Nick Gibb has also gone.<\/p>\n
With COP26 coming up, the temptation to say something positive instead of just warm words will be surely significant. \u00a0With that in mind, I also hear that there has been considerable recent collaboration between Department officials and the Teach the Future team over what will be happening at the COP. \u00a0In particular, there is the Education Ministers' summit on November 5th. \u00a0This, which is an innovation, is a joint UK \/ Italy \/ Unesco affair where, I hear (with a heavy heart) that pledges will be brought and exchanged.<\/p>\n
We shall need more than pledges.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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