New GCSE requires at least 20 hours of outdoor fieldwork

The government says the new natural history GCSE is one step closer to being taught in classrooms.   

The DfE says the new qualification will see students study three core areas:

• habitats and wildlife in the UK
• human influence on the natural world
• climate change, biodiversity loss and conservation

However, the main goal is to include time outside of the classroom for fieldwork. The government believes this will give students 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 students, parents, teachers and the green industry, as it launches a 12-week consultation on the proposed subject content.  

Responding to the consultation, Sarah Hannafin, head of policy at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“This is a welcome step forward in delivering a natural history GCSE – an area of study which we think many young people will find engaging, interesting and relevant.

“A new GCSE also creates an opportunity to consider a more balanced approach to assessment which will meet the needs of a wider range of students. It should include non-exam assessment and limit exam time to only what is really needed to award a reliable grade.”

Green skills and careers

The consultation comes as jobs in sustainable sectors and green careers continue to rise in demand. Around 900 UK businesses in nature-related sectors raised £2.8 billion in 2025 and supported 21,000 jobs.   

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

It forms part of Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson’s wider reforms to better prepare young people for life and work in today’s world and beyond. 

She 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.”

Understanding the natural world

At the heart of the new GCSE is a deep understanding of UK habitats and wildlife students will find around them, claims the DfE. This includes urban, freshwater, woodland, grassland, farmland and marine environments.

As part of the proposed curriculum, students will also learn to use scientific models such as taxonomic keys and food webs. The government says the GCSE will ask students to understand how habitats form. It claims it will also encourage students to question how changes on earth affect forms of wildlife differently. 

The aim is for students to learn how the UK’s landscape has changed over time. The government believes this will give young people the historical context to make sense of changes happening today. Changes include shifts in migration patterns and species extinction. 

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

“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 propoised subject content will examine human influences on the natural world. This includes urbanisation, fishing and deforestation, as well as conservation approaches. The content is also set to explore how everyday actions can support biodiversity. These actions could range from wildlife-friendly gardens to reduced mowing of roadside verges.

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.”

Practical skills and future pathways

The plan states that young people will carry out a minimum of 20 hours of fieldwork. Alongside building a connection with nature, the government says this element will grow the scientific and analytical skills increasingly valued by employers in environmental sectors.  

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

It follows the announcement of new V Levels. Ultimately, the goal is for 16-19-year-olds to be able to study a V Level in Agriculture, Environmental and Animal Care from 2029. The government believes this will give them hands-on experience and provide 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.