Mrs Gemma Wilson and Mrs Caroline Wilson, who teach at the prep school for children aged 3-11 in Frant Road, will now be able to deliver up-to-date climate change lessons to Mead pupils.
Climate Change Accredited Teachers have access to resources and training through the United Nations Climate Change Learn Programme, which equips teachers with climate change and environmental knowledge to educate and empower our next generations.
Teachers are required to complete five modules that give them UN accreditation as a climate change teacher. The online course covers areas such as climate change science, adaptation planning, health, forests, climate change finance and international negotiations.
Gemma Wilson said: “It’s great that Caroline and I now have the UN accreditation so we know our pupils will be given accurate, relevant information on the causes and effects of global heating. It’s wonderful to share our knowledge on this hugely important subject with the children.”
Headmaster Mr Andrew Webster said: “The UN’s sustainable development goals are a central part of our curriculum at The Mead.
“Lessons on Global Studies, Geography, STEAM and Art are tailored to encompass issues such as world poverty, clean water, affordable energy and climate action. The UN accreditation further enhances our ability as a school to teach children effectively on these important issues and we are immensely proud of Gemma and Caroline for working hard to gain this status.”
Melanie Harwood, the founder of the new eduCCate Global initiative, added: “Our aim is to have an accredited climate change teacher in every school in the UK by Christmas this year.
“Not only will it transform the way we talk about the climate emergency in schools, but it will also show what we can achieve when schools, parents and children work together to tackle this global problem.”
Melanie Harwood and Denise Meissner, the education specialists who launched the project in partnership with UN CC:Learn, said: “We are delighted to share the success of The Mead School on the Interactive Map of eduCCate Global Climate Change Teachers Worldwide with our partners and supporters of the project.
“We have been overwhelmed with the support and interest in the eduCCate Global Climate Change Teacher Course. It has become a global movement in just six months.”
Thousands of teachers have already signed up for it so far, and there are teachers from more than 27 countries involved.
The innovative first phase of the programme was launched on April 22 and is fully funded for primary school teachers, secondary school teachers and further education college teachers worldwide. All they need to do to sign up for access to the free lessons and CPD is visit educcateglobal.org
Once teachers have completed the five units of the Climate Change Teacher Course, they will be accredited by UN CC:Learn to deliver climate change facts and mitigation best practices.
The online training for teachers in primary and secondary schools has been designed to equip educators with the knowledge and confidence to deliver lessons on the topic of climate change to their class and across the school curriculum.
