Expert report outlines ten priority areas for integrating climate change and sustainability into the national curriculum

University of Reading report sets out ten priorities for climate education, including teacher training, exam reform, and integrating sustainability into Ofsted.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 4, 2026, 9:33 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from University of Reading

A systemic approach to climate literacy

A new report published by a coalition of educational experts and professional bodies argues that simply updating the national curriculum is insufficient to meet the challenges of the climate crisis. While recent reforms to Science, Geography, and Design and Technology have been welcomed, the report emphasizes that real change requires a detailed program of support across the entire education system. Professor Andrew Charlton-Perez, chair of the National Climate Education Action Plan, noted that because climate change affects every aspect of modern life, it should be woven into every part of a young person’s education, moving beyond the traditional silos of science and geography.

Prioritizing quality and coherence in resources

The ten-point plan places a heavy emphasis on the quality and sequencing of classroom materials. Experts advocate for a rigorous quality-control process for resources from major publishers to ensure they are accurate, up-to-date, and adaptable for local contexts. Furthermore, the report calls for better coherence between subjects and year groups to avoid unnecessary repetition and to ensure that learning builds progressively over time. By defining essential content—such as the fundamental causes, consequences, and solutions of climate change—the plan aims to make climate literacy a compulsory and well-structured component of every student's academic journey.

Expanding teacher support and training

A critical pillar of the proposal is the comprehensive support of the teaching workforce. The experts argue for better training and resources across all subjects, including specific guidance on how to handle controversial or sensitive environmental issues in the classroom. This "climate lens" would be applied from the very start of teacher training, ensuring that educators in every discipline are equipped to discuss sustainability. This approach ensures that climate education is not seen as an additional burden for a few specialists, but as a shared responsibility integrated into the foundational pedagogy of the entire school community.