Issued by: Department for Education

Biodiversity, conservation and human influences on the natural world among the topics of study, as public encouraged to have their say on the new qualification.

In a landmark moment for education, young people will soon be able to grow the knowledge and skills they need for future careers shaped by science, technology and environmental change, as the new Natural History GCSE is one step closer to being taught in classrooms.

The new qualification will see pupils’ study three core areas: habitats and wildlife in the UK, human influence on the natural world, and will include the study of climate change, biodiversity loss and conservation. It will also include time outside of the classroom for fieldwork giving them an opportunity to get their hands dirty and apply their knowledge and skills by studying real habitats in their local area.

The government is seeking views from pupils, parents, teachers and the green industry, as it launches a 12-week consultation [https://tinyurl.com/4rtwtj82] on the proposed subject content.

It comes as jobs in sustainable sectors and green careers continue to rise in demand, with around 900 UK businesses in nature-related sectors raising £2.8 billion in 2025, supporting 21,000 jobs.

With the UK’s natural capital asset value estimated at around £1.6 trillion, the new GCSE will ensure that children are equipped with the highly sought after skills for the workforce of a changing world and contributes to the wider commitment across government to cut the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).

This forms part of the Education Secretary’s wider reforms to bring the national curriculum into the modern day and better prepare young people for life and work in today’s world and beyond.

Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said:

"As we move into a world where careers are being increasingly shaped by science, technology and environmental change, it’s crucial young people have the skills for the jobs of tomorrow.

"This new GCSE will help students build a strong understanding of the natural world, alongside the knowledge, skills and hands-on experience to access careers in some of the UK’s fastest growing sectors.

"With extensive fieldwork built in, the GCSE will also get young people out and about exploring local parks, rivers and more – a critical part of childhood as more and more of our worlds are taken up by screens."

At the heart of the new GCSE is a deep understanding of UK habitats and wildlife pupils will find around them – urban, freshwater, woodland, grassland, farmland and marine.

By learning to use scientific models such as taxonomic keys and food webs, the GCSE will ask students to understand how habitats form, and how changes on Earth affect forms of wildlife differently.

Pupils will also learn how the UK’s landscape has changed over time, giving young people the historical context to make sense of changes happening today, including shifts in migration patterns and species extinction.

Director of the Natural History Museum, Dr. Doug Gurr, said:

"It was fantastic to welcome the Secretary of State to the Museum to mark the consultation launch of the proposed Natural History GCSE. We know there is strong demand from young people and educators to learn more about nature. Through the Museum-led National Education Nature Park (NENP), thousands of schools, nurseries and colleges across England are already taking practical action to boost biodiversity. Together, the proposed GCSE and the NENP can help equip a generation with the knowledge, skills and confidence to create a future in which people and planet thrive."

The subject content will also examine human influences on the natural world, such as urbanisation, fishing and deforestation, as well as conservation approaches, while exploring how everyday actions – from wildlife-friendly gardens to reduced mowing of roadside verges – can support biodiversity.

Naturalist, explorer, presenter and writer, Steve Backshall, added:

"I’ve spent my life exploring the furthest reaches of the globe – from ocean depths to mountain summits – and the natural world never stops surprising me. That sense of discovery is something every young person deserves to feel, and this GCSE could be the thing that sparks it.

"Getting students outside for real fieldwork – studying everything from urban parks to coastal salt marshes – is exactly how you build a genuine connection with nature. That hands-on experience isn’t just brilliant for the soul, it builds the kind of scientific and analytical skills that will serve them well in future life.

"We’re asking this generation to confront some of the biggest challenges humanity has ever faced – biodiversity loss, climate change, species extinction. This qualification gives them the knowledge and the tools to not just understand those challenges, but to be part of the solution."

Nature Minister, Mary Creagh said:

"Our iconic British wildlife is under pressure from climate change, and this new Natural History GCSE will help reconnect our young people to the natural world.

"As this Government steps up action to plant forests and reintroduce birds and wildflowers we are seeing a skills gap open up across the country. This new qualification will inspire our young people with the knowledge and skills they need to protect the world around them."

Young people will carry out a minimum of 20 hours of fieldwork – alongside building a connection with nature, this element will grow the scientific and analytical skills increasingly valued by employers in environmental sectors.

Similarly, the GCSE will develop practical skills in data collection, statistical analysis, and evidence recording – skills directly relevant to careers in environmental science, conservation, land management and data-driven green industries.

It follows the announcement of new V Levels, the biggest transformation to vocational education in a generation. From 2029, 16-19-year-olds will be able to study a V Level in Agriculture, Environmental and Animal Care, giving them hands-on experience and providing an opportunity for further study of the natural world.

The qualification is expected to be first taught in schools at the same time as the teaching of the revised GCSEs following the Curriculum and Assessment Review.

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