HC Deb 11 February 1994 vol 237 cc512-3W
Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what further guidance will be given on schools' environmental management practices as indicated in the sustainable development strategy.

Mr. Robin Squire

The guidance promised in the United Kingdom strategy on sustainable development will be published later this year.

It will be in the form of a simple environmental audit scheme which the schools can carry out themselves to evaluate and improve the environmental impact of their school buildings.

Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what plans he has for schools to have a policy for environmental education guaranteeing provision and continuity between different subject areas of the curriculum;

(2) if he will make it his policy to encourage all schools to appoint a co-ordinator for environmental education;

(3) if he will publish guidance to advise schools of good practice in teaching about care for the environment;

(4) what plans he has for providing guidance to schools on delivering environmental education on biodiversity and sustainable development;

(5) what plans he has to provide grants to voluntary bodies to produce teaching resources and facilities that promote the concept of sustainability declared at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

Mr. Robin Squire

Provided that the statutory requirements are met, it is for the individual school to determine the character of its curriculum, its organisation and the mode of its delivery, taking account of any relevant information or advice produced by the Office for Standards in Education. Where environmental education is addressed through the statutory subjects of the national curriculum, content and continuity will be specified within the statutory documents. My right hon. Friend is giving priority to the revision of these documents and has no plans to publish additional guidance for schools on these matters. He does not publish curriculum resources and has no plans to fund voluntary or other bodies to do so. He prefers to provide specific grant to support expenditure by schools on books, materials and equipment or teacher training, as they see fit to develop national curriculum provision.

Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to ensure that within the school's inspection framework the responsibility of schools for raising awareness and understanding of the environment and conservation issues is subject to inspection and comment.

Mr. Robin Squire

Under the Education (Schools) Act 1992, registered inspectors conducting inspection of schools must report on the quality of education and standards achieved in schools in accordance with Ofsted's pubished framework for inspection.

I have asked Professor Sutherland to write to the hon. Member.