Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (ESDGC)

Education for Sustainable Development

Enables people to develop the knowledge, values and skills to participate in decisions about the way we do things individually and collectively, both locally and globally, that will improve the quality of life now without damaging the planet for the future.

Education for Global Citizenship

Enables people to understand the global forces which shape their lives and to acquire the knowledge, skills and values that will equip them to participate in decision making, both locally and globally, which promotes a more equitable and sustainable world.

There are seven key themes which are used to demonstrate the breadth of ESDGC:Identity and culture; the natural environment; wealth and poverty; health; climate change; consumption and waste; choices and decisions.

Concepts associated with ESDGC

Interdependence - understanding how people, the environment and the economy are inextricably linked at all levels from local to global
Citizenship and stewardship - recognising the importance of taking individual responsibility and action to make the world a better place
Needs and rights - understanding our own basic needs and about human rights and the implications for the needs of future generations of actions taken today
Diversity - understanding, respecting and valuing both human diversity– and biodiversity
Sustainable change - understanding that resources are finite and that this has implications for people’s lifestyles and for commerce and industry
Quality of life - acknowledging that global equity and justice are essential elements of sustainability and that basic needs must be met universally
Uncertainty and precaution - acknowledging that there are a range of possible approaches to sustainability and global citizenship and that situations are constantly changing, indicating a need for flexibility and lifelong learning
Values and perceptions - developing a critical evaluation of images of and information about the less and more economically developed parts of the world and an appreciation of the effect these have on people’s attitudes and values
Conflict resolution - understanding how conflicts are a barrier to development and a risk to us all and why there is a need for their resolution and the promotion of harmony.

Two Key Objectives at Ysgol y Grango for ESDGC:

To ensure that ESDGC is embedded within the school development plan (SDP)
To develop an integrated approach to the development of ESDGC - from subject content, through to teaching and learning and school ethos and management.

Through the Curriculum

At Ysgol y Grango, ESDGC is integrated across the whole school curriculum where the development of ESDGC is seen as relevant to the learning journey of our pupils.

ESDGC forms a core part of the philosophy and practice at Ysgol y Grango, and is monitored, evaluated and regularly developed. The school recognises the emphasis placed on ESDGC within the 2008 Revised Curriculum for Wales and departments “take appropriate opportunities to promote ESDGC in all relevant aspects of their teaching”. Regular meetings of an ESGDC focus group are built into the school meeting calendar. Opportunity will be taken wherever possible and appropriate to address and explore specific local, national or global events.

The Year 7 Learning to Learn Programme includes two units particularly focused on ESDGC – Wales and the World and Our Environment.

In the unit Wales and the World students consider their sense of community and cultural identity. The unit provides opportunities for pupils to consider their sense of cultural identity i.e. ‘welshness’ in relation to their friends, family and wider community.

Students are encouraged to develop an understanding of what it means to have or develop a sense of cultural identity in relation to their own community and other communities. Students have an opportunity to investigate a foreign community in order to make comparisons.

In the unit Our Environment, students consider their understanding of environmental issues and what it means to be eco friendly. The unit provides opportunities for pupils to consider their own environment, particularly the learning environment. Students are encouraged to develop an understanding of what it means to have an eco friendly school and work together to devise and create opportunities through working together to promote the environmental agenda in school.

Listening to Learners

Throughout the school, Learners develop their understanding and skills through carrying out their own initiatives and outcomes for learners are monitored within curriculum areas and through listening to learner programmes. Through tutor time activities, the School Council, Eco Committee and Fairtrade Steering Group, learners have the opportunity to make regular suggestions for and participate in initiatives to support sustainable development and global citizenship.

Global and community links

We aim to make our school the centre of its community, drawing upon the expertise within it whenever possible. We are currently developing links with a secondary school in Poland (more details will be added to this website about this twinning arrangement shortly.)

Assessment, recording and reporting

The work that the pupils do in different subjects that involves ESDGC will be assessed as other aspects of those subjects are assessed. Some of this work may be formally assessed but much will be informally assessed. Work carried out outside the boundaries of National Curriculum or other accreditations will be assessed informally. Significant achievements will be reported to parents through the school merit and reporting systems.

Resources

We recognise the importance of having high quality resources that motivate children and support learning. Specific resources for ESDGC are allocated within the school budget as appropriate each year. The school funds the work of an “eco champion” who works with pupils as part of the eco school scheme and in improving the school grounds as well as teaching pupils to understand more about the local habitat of the school for wildlife and plants.

As part of the 14 – 19 curriculum, students in KS4 can opt to take a qualification in Small Animal care. Further resources are obtained from outside agencies e.g. The New East Wales Forum for ESDGC, Europe Direct, British Council, School Library service and Wrexham LEA.

Extra-curricular and out of school opportunities

Our extra-curricular provision allows our pupils to broaden their understanding of sustainable development and Global Citizenship.

e.g.

We participate in the Eco-Schools initiative
We are working towards achieving Fairtrade status as a school
We are actively involved in the Healthy Schools’ initiative.
Pupils take part in Welsh Eisteddfods and visit Glan Llyn.
A school visit to France takes place annually.
We have an active Gardening Club

The extra curricular provision supports the provision for pupils who are more able and talented and allows children with specific interests to pursue them further.