Written question WQ93728

The Curriculum for Wales recognises the importance of ensuring our children and young people are developing green skills for the future, which is why learning about the environment and climate change is mandatory within the curriculum, through both Humanities and Science and Technology.

Annually, we spend £665,000 to support two key environmental educational programmes for schools across Wales: Eco Schools and Size of Wales. Reaching up to 90% of schools across Wales, over 300,000 children and young people have been engaged via these programmes, empowering them to drive change, improve their environmental awareness, take action and learn about climate change and the importance of forests and protecting our ecosystems.

The Welsh Government is providing £45 million of funding for the delivery of three innovative, sustainable primary schools through the ‘Sustainable Schools Challenge’. Three schools across Wales will push the boundaries on all aspects of sustainability through innovation and collaboration, involving learners, staff, parents, community and supply chain, and provide useful case studies to inform the wider programme and its stakeholders. Learner and community engagement at all stages is a requirement for these projects, linking to the curriculum in innovative ways through digital and physical methods.