Natural history GCSE consultation is now open

The new natural history GCSE will be a valuable opportunity for students to learn about their world.

The government has launched a 12-week public consultation on the proposed subject content for a brand new natural history GCSE for schools in England. It’s a qualification that has been more than a decade in the making, and one that could fundamentally change how young people see the world around them.

The new GCSE is set to centre on three core areas:

UK habitats and wildlife
human influences on the natural world
biodiversity loss and climate change.

What will set it apart is its requirement for practical work outside. Students will be required to complete a minimum of 20 hours of fieldwork, studying real habitats in their local area, including parks, rivers, woodland, farmland and coastal salt marshes.

What will they learn?

The consultation is live at the moment, but it is envisaged that the course will teach pupils to use scientific tools such as taxonomic keys and food webs to understand how habitats form and how environmental change affects wildlife. They would also explore how the UK’s landscape has changed over centuries. This historical context will enable them to make sense of things happening right now, from changes in migration patterns to species extinction.

Relevant and local

The GCSE will also prompt students to consider how everyday choices such as planting wildlife-friendly gardens or leaving grass uncut along roadsides can meaningfully support biodiversity. The message for young people is that nature is happening right outside their homes and simple actions can help to preserve the ecosystem services it provides.

Naturalist and explorer Steve Backshall welcomed the announcement of the natural history GCSE, saying that the qualification would give young people to “not just understand…challenges, but to be part of the solution”.

Get involved with the Natural History GCSE consultation here