Natural History: GCSE
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Department for Education's press release entitled New natural history GCSE to grow next generation of green careers, published on 12 June 2026, what plans she has to monitor the proportion of pupils progressing from the qualification into further study or employment in environmental sectors.
Answered by Georgia Gould
A high-quality curriculum equips children and young people with the knowledge and skills to thrive in a changing world. This includes providing children and young people with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to understand and develop a connection to the natural world, access green careers, and thrive in life and work in a world with a changing climate. The natural history GCSE is intended to support progression into further academic and vocational study, training or employment, including pathways such as environmental science A level and relevant V Levels and T Levels. The department routinely collects data on key stage 4 subject-level entries, and post-16 data at subject level.
On 12 June, the department launched a public consultation on proposed subject content for a new natural history GCSE. We are seeking views from a range stakeholders on the proposed subject content, including from employers and organisations in environmental sectors.
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