How is Scotland’s Curriculum Helping Young People Build a Sustainable Society?

On Earth day 2024, DYW Scotland are celebrating how learning for sustainability is being experienced by young people in schools across the country.
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Learning for Sustainability (LfS), is an entitlement for all learners within the curriculum for Excellence. Education Scotland states LfS is an approach to life and learning which enables learners, educators, schools and their wider communities to build a socially-just, sustainable and equitable society. An effective whole school and community approach to LfS brings together global citizenship, sustainable development education and outdoor learning to create coherent, rewarding and transformative learning experiences. 

Photo Credit: Learning for Sustainability (LfS)

​​Whilst learning for sustainability has been part of the curriculum for some time, a refreshed Learning for Sustainability Action Plan, which places sustainability at the centre of the Scottish education system, was launched in 2023.  Actions in the new plan include development of new LfS related qualifications, commitments to outdoor learning, setting up a new online LfS portal, establishing a LfS Mentor Network for educators and a children and young people LfS Leadership Group. 

It is understood that young people fully recognise the importance of climate and social justice, equality and outdoor learning for their future life and work in the 21st century and want these to be a real and meaningful part of their daily learning experiences and their learner journey as a whole. 
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Photo Credit: Learning for Sustainability

​Launching the strategy at Grove Academy in Dundee, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said:

“Perhaps more than any other group, our children and young people recognise the importance of climate and social justice. The new Target 2030 ambition within the strategy is about placing sustainability at the heart of the education system, revolutionising what and how students learn. This strategy is about building a powerful movement for change. I look forward to seeing how children, young people, learners and educators embrace this new strategy and how the Scottish education system changes to meet the challenges of tomorrow as a result of this inspirational work.”

The ‘Target 2030 Action plan’ highlights our drive to net zero states Scottish Government, this takes a central role in Scotland’s economic strategy and requires rapid and disruptive change to the ways in which we live our lives and to our behaviours and actions. Scotland's National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET), Green Jobs in Scotland and our response to the climate change and nature crises will be strengthened significantly by the successful implementation of the LfS Action Plan. 

Delivering this ambition requires educators, communities and industry sectors to work together, to equip young people to thrive in our vision for the future.

​Promoting Sustainable Careers Through DYW Activity
Through DYW, tens of thousands of school pupils from across Scotland each year are experiencing sustainability and green careers insight and inspiration with employers. With a range of occupations and industries being profiled, young people are learning that skills for sustainability permeate through sectors and are gaining inspiration and knowledge to take their next steps after school.

One example of this experience is through the My Climate Path programme. A COP26 education legacy initiative founded in the greater Glasgow region, which has been joining the dots between education, the youth workforce, and employers through inspirational and real-life experiences since its launch in 2021.

My Climate Path is an employer-led programme of activity which raises awareness of the roles and skills required for the jobs of the future that will drive sustainable economic growth in a circular and net zero economy. Working with diverse businesses, DYW actively recruit and support Climate Heroes to volunteer to deliver varied activities at their matched schools. Climate Heroes share their knowledge and successful environmental stories. Meanwhile, educators acquire up-to-date industry insights for future teaching. It also eases employers’ pressure by supporting young people to develop the skills required for sustainable economy, preparing a pipeline of future talent for the transition to net zero.

“The climate emergency can be a cause for anxiety amongst many young people. However, the climate hero programme has provided the opportunity for us to engage with young people on environmental matters in a positive way. We enjoyed hosting workshops with the pupils at Abercorn School which focused on the role and responsibility that an architect has in the race to net zero and importantly that collaboration is required to find the best solutions.

​During the workshops, we invited the pupils to review and interrogate their immediate surroundings and consider what measures could be introduced to create ‘My Sustainable Abercorn’. Workshops were themed under the headings of Retrofit, Energy Demand, and Biodiversity and a range of models, gadgets, and experiments were used to help the pupils understand and visualise the changes that are needed across the built environment to tackle climate change.” - Climate Hero, Michael Dougall, O’DonnellBrown.

Another element of My Climate Path, My Fashion Path, brings to life and increases young people’s awareness of the sustainable fashion industry through a range of employer led activity. Employers support young people to explore key themes around sustainable fashion and gain a better understanding of the career pathways within the fashion and manufacturing industry.

If you would like to find out more and get involved in sustainability action in schools, reach out to your local DYW Regional Group or contact us centrally for support.  Stay up to date on all the latest DYW news by following us on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook.