Building minds for the future
Vision Statement
At Merdon we believe it is important for the children to understand the 2030 targets set through the Sustainability Development Goals by the United Nations in 2015. As a school, we should also be aware and respond to the government’s sustainability and climate change strategy (April 2021) which has the vision that by 2030, the UK is the world-leading education sector in sustainability and climate change.
These goals and strategies form part our school community’s language and we recognise how the impact on every individual’s life. understanding the global picture Through rich curriculum planning, our children are led to understand the global picture which sparks curious, critical thinkers who can challenge concepts, ask questions and understand their possible impact and contribution to the world around them, both in their locality and globally.
Building Minds for the Future is implemented within our curriculum through the collective understanding of why this is important for our children right now. We ensure they are well- equipped with a robust understanding, knowledge and skillset to prepare them for their lives beyond Merdon Junior School.
We believe that children should be a central also be part of this process and by working alongside the Eco-ambassadors and Green Team, we have established children’s own voice and awareness of our fragile planet.
At Merdon we have the capacity, through our school grounds, to engage the children with the natural world. With direct access to a wide variety of nature on our doorstep, we are increasing the opportunities for climate education and community-based projects. The children use the vast school site to increase their knowledge of the life within it, how they can protect it and how we can use it in a sustainable way. Through the school’s long-term vision, they will be able to grow food, create areas for wildlife and understand how these actions relate to the wider world.
Intent
By the end of the key stage
- Pupils at Merdon will have a secure knowledge of the sustainability goals and how they are relevant to their lives both now and in the future.
- Pupils will be curious, critical thinkers who can challenge concepts, ask questions and understand that they can have an impact on the world around them, both in their locality and globally.
- Through collaborative learning all children will have the confidence to express opinions, build on the ideas of their peers and challenge the thinking of others.
- Pupils will understand how sustainability interweaves throughout the many different curriculum subjects and how this theme has a golden thread through the whole curriculum at Merdon.