Backshall and Smit push for nature GCSE — SkimNews
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- Steve Backshall and Sir Tim Smit used the word "greenlightenment" to frame their push for nature education at the core of school curriculums, with Sir Tim calling the proposed natural history GCSE a "seismic moment for British education".
- The UK government is consulting on a new natural history GCSE, and said the qualification would equip children with "highly sought after skills" and could help reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training.
- A Heligan survey of 1,004 parent-and-child groups across England found 55% of children had never climbed a tree, and 61% had never collected a conker or camped in a tent.
- Sir Tim Smit argued that children have not lost their interest in nature but have lost opportunities to experience it, saying it is the responsibility of adults to "equip the next generation with the tools to protect nature so it doesn't become history".
- Steve Backshall hosted the Wild Heligan experience to engage young people with wildlife, saying: "Young people who are engaged with nature will be happier, healthier and more likely to take on our planet's problems."
- Among children surveyed by Heligan, 34% said they would definitely choose the proposed natural history GCSE if offered by their school, with another 41% saying they probably would.
Why it matters: With 75% of surveyed children saying they would probably or definitely take a natural history GCSE and 55-61% reporting they have never done basic outdoor activities like climbing a tree or collecting conkers, the survey data points to an access gap rather than a demand gap — meaning uptake of the proposed qualification would hinge on schools offering it, not on persuading reluctant pupils.
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