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Dept for Education and Skills

Answer

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what plans he has to create more opportunities for primary school children to explore the natural environment; [184823] (2) what plans he has to widen opportunities beyond the classroom for secondary school children to improve their understanding of the natural environment. [184824] Mr. Stephen Twigg: Out of classroom learning is already a part of both the primary and secondary cycle of a child's education. In England, the Geography programmes of study at Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 include a requirement for all pupils to carry out fieldwork investigations outside the classroom. Opportunities for outdoor learning also exist across the curriculum, in particular in Science, and we are encouraging all schools to take them up. In order to help build confidence and competence in teachers, we have funded the Field Studies Council in association with the Geographical Association, the Association of Science Education and the Open University to develop a professional development unit for geography and science teachers. From autumn, complementary courses will be offered through the new national network of Science Learning Centres across England, specifically for science teachers. Lastly, our Growing Schools programme, which has engaged over 12,000 English schools so far, supports teachers with educating pupils about food cultivation, farming, and understanding the natural environment, as well how to use the outdoors for teaching subjects across the curriculum for pupils of all ages.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

423 c1372-3W; 184823;184824

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Curriculum Environment Primary education Outdoor education Secondary education Science Geography

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk