01 May 2010

Primary curriculum changes support waste and sustainability education
In 2008 education expert Sir Jim Rose was asked by Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families to carry out an independent review of the primary curriculum in England. Following a consultation, the final report was published last year and schools are now receiving guidance and support to help introduce the new curriculum from September 2011.

The new curriculum is organised around six areas of learning, a move away from being organised around discrete subjects. The six areas are:

- understanding English, communication and languages
- mathematical understanding
- understanding the arts
- historical, geographical and social understanding
- understanding physical development, health and wellbeing
- scientific and technological understanding

This model is designed to help children make coherent links across all areas of their learning and is less prescriptive for teachers, giving them greater flexibility and allowing them to take a more cross-curricular topic-based approach to teaching.
Waste Watch are delighted that the new curriculum makes explicit reference to recycling and sustainable living, outlining for example that children should be taught how everyday materials can be recycled; different ways environments can be managed sustainably and why this is important; and how science can contribute to a more sustainable future.

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