Bridging the skills gap through meaningful changes to the curriculum
The Government has responded to recommendations from the Environmental Audit Committee on the topic of Green Jobs.
Among the EAC’s recommendations were those relating to sustainability within the National Curriculum, which paralleled the recommendations made in our recent report Green Shoots: A sustainable chemistry curriculum for a sustainable planet.
By Sarah Robertson, Royal Society of Chemistry Director of Education and Professional Practice
Despite the Education Secretary’s recent commitment to "put climate change at the heart of education" the Government has indicated that there is no intention to update the National Curriculum to provide further emphasis on sustainability and climate change. This is extremely disappointing news, particularly in the light of our recent research, showing that an overhaul of the chemistry curriculum is urgently needed – and wanted by pupils, teachers and industry.
While the National Curriculum does include some topics related to climate change and the environment, the evidence is clear: our current chemistry curriculum is not adequate.
In our Green Shoots report, we showed that two thirds of secondary chemistry educators think that the chemistry curriculum should have more content on climate change and sustainability. This number rises to nine in ten for those teaching primary school age.
Pupils agree, with 66% of those aged 17 and 18 telling us they want more detailed coverage of sustainability and climate change in lessons. Meanwhile 84% of educators in 11–19 education said it is very important that the chemistry curriculum includes content on sustainability and climate change.
Moreover, when we surveyed practising chemists in academia and industry, 68% of this group told us they believe there is a gap between the chemical knowledge and skills currently held by young people, and those needed for green jobs now and in the future, with 30% believing this gap was very significant.
69% of respondents said that current sustainability and climate change content in the curriculum only prepares students somewhat well or not at all well for progression into further study or careers in the chemical sciences.
Our children in school today are the ones whose lives will be affected most by the impacts of climate change and the actions needed to avoid them. It is imperative that all students, whatever their career ambitions, are equipped with the skills and knowledge to participate in a future green economy and be responsible and conscientious members of society.
Chemistry has the potential to solve many of the pressing issues facing our planet. We believe that every young person should have the opportunity to feel inspired to use the power of chemistry to tackle global challenges, joining today’s chemistry professionals in working towards a better future.
Without making meaningful changes to the curriculum, we risk creating a skills gap that becomes impossible to bridge, setting the UK at an economic and educational disadvantage in a world where climate change and sustainability are critical and urgent issues.
The Royal Society of Chemistry stands ready to work with the Government to make the changes needed for the benefit of future pupils and our wider society.