Consultation on the new GCSE in Natural History

[Broch]

You only have a few days to contribute to the proposed content of the new GCSE in Natural History. This may be the best opportunity you have to contribute to abetter understanding of the Natural World. The consultation closes this Friday (4th).

Admittedly, they didn’t make it easy to find the draft proposal – so here it is:
Natural history GCSE proposed subject content

To contribute to the consultation – click here:
GCSE natural history consultation

 

[PoppyD]

We have done it. Please. I encourage anyone here with any interest in natural history. And that should be the right lot of you. Have your say. Because this really is a dying subject. Despite all the goobers my age screaming green green green.

 

[Ozmundo]

Thanks for the heads up. I hadn’t heard of this before.

 

[JonathanD]

What Pops said. We aren’t progressing with future generations in this subject. Quite the opposite. We are going the other way. Natural history was intriguing to early generation X’ers and we had a good basic knowledge. Nowadays, kids are so far removed from tapping on screens to tapping on bark that they have zero interest and zero idea. And I have lectured on my subject at universities. And in biology and zoology classes too. You’d be shocked at the dumbed down knowledge you get at degree level compared to the basic 7-10 year olds 30 years previously. Even documentaries shown on the once esteemed BBC are basic at best. Adults shows now are like Animal Magic or The Really Wild Show back then. There’s been many a person that’s said to me that my life in conservation of the species I specialise in has been wasted. And I’d have to completely agree with them. I’ve not saved species. I just saved individuals of that species.

 

[Astrochicken]

Done, and frankly frustrating for me that I didn't know about it. Without this link I'd have missed this entirely, so thank you Broch. I've sent it onto others so hopefully some will contribute too.

Personally I think the subject should be mandatory, given the challenge of our changing climate. Ultimately I think people not understanding or valuing our UK wildlife will not allow them to divorce themselves from the impact of not caring for it. As we all live in this land, we all have a responsibility to it.