{"id":8047,"date":"2022-02-04T09:38:02","date_gmt":"2022-02-04T09:38:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/edswahs\/?p=8047"},"modified":"2022-02-04T09:38:02","modified_gmt":"2022-02-04T09:38:02","slug":"a-limited-dfe-survey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/edswahs\/2022\/02\/04\/a-limited-dfe-survey\/","title":{"rendered":"A limited DfE survey"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the middle of its consultation about its\u00a0Sustainability and Climate Change draft strategy,<\/em><\/a>\u00a0the DfE has decided to run a survey. \u00a0This\u00a0asks us which actions set out in the strategy are the most important to us, and seeks our our opinions of the overall strategy itself.\u00a0 Here is the link<\/em><\/a>\u00a0to the survey instrument.<\/p>\n

I filled it in more by way of duty than anything else. \u00a0Inevitably it comprises closed questions, many with limited scope for response. \u00a0There was little opportunity for saying what I really thought. \u00a0 Some argue that the DfE only did this in order to be seen to be doing something in the face of criticism from school unions<\/a>\u00a0published on January 24th. \u00a0The survey went live on January 31st and so there might be something in that argument especially as the unions' letter says this:<\/p>\n

\"We greatly appreciate the opportunity to engage with staff from the recently established DfE Sustainability Unit - and appreciate their knowledge and dedication - and will continue to contribute positively to meetings and prepare written feedback. However, given the\u00a0<\/span>importance of this engagement, and to demonstrate that the Government will listen and act, we would, in addition to these engagement opportunities, urge you to establish a formal consultation process compliant with the HM Government\u2019s Code of Practice on Consultation. At COP 26 you gave a clear commitment to worker consultation. We would, therefore, urge you to make good on this undertaking. It is not too late to establish a formal consultation process with a deadline for responses in April 2022.\"<\/p>\n

The unions welcome the strategy, as we must, but say:<\/p>\n

\"... there remain areas of concern where proposed changes do not go far enough, and other issues have been overlooked. The organisations say the language around resource and finance is vague, whilst certain key targets are far less ambitious than required, and climate education is confined to discrete subject areas rather than embedded holistically. \u00a0Instead, they propose concrete and ambitious alternatives, including:<\/p>\n