Policy
Natural History GCSE Approved to Teach Biodiversity and Conservation Skills
Published June 11, 2026
The Department for Education has approved plans for a dedicated Natural History GCSE, set to launch in the coming years, which will equip teenagers with knowledge about biodiversity loss, global heating, and practical ways to support local ecosystems.
The qualification will examine human effects on the natural world and explore everyday actions to aid biodiversity, including how to create wildlife-friendly gardens and understand environmental systems. Campaigners have advocated for over a decade to bring environmental education into the mainstream curriculum, though the launch has faced repeated delays due to political and administrative hurdles.
For local authorities, the new GCSE represents both an opportunity to enhance environmental literacy among young people and a consideration for curriculum planning and school provision. The qualification aligns with wider government ambitions around climate education and sustainability, potentially supporting local environmental strategies whilst adding to the existing range of science and geography pathways available to secondary pupils.
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