On Tuesday 28 January 2025, Richmond Council passed what may be the first motion ever by a local authority in support of the proposed GCSE in Natural History.
Educators, naturalists and campaigners say that the new qualification is a vital way of helping young people to develop an understanding of the natural world and to face the future challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.
The GCSE was supposed to have started being taught in schools in 2025, but the final step – a public consultation – has been delayed indefinitely by the Labour government. Deputy leader of the Opposition, Chas Warlow, proposed the motion which called on the Council to urge the Department of Education to continue the process to introduce the qualification without further delay and accused the government of “kicking the idea into the long grass”.
At a time when the twin challenges of climate change and nature depletion are proving to be deep concerns for young people, the GCSE will give them the confidence to face up to these issues and find practical solutions.
In the words of Mary Colwell, the naturalist and broadcaster who initiated the idea of the GCSE in Natural History: “We need a nature-literate society to tackle the challenges of the future. We must make the right decisions in all sectors of society to meet the needs of the fast-emerging green economy, and for the health and well-being of citizens. One way to do that is to embed nature education into the heart of education.”
The motion was passed unanimously. Read more about the Natural History GCSE on the OCR website.
