Nigel Evans, MP for the Ribble Valley, recently met with Rachael Gray, they first UN accredited climate change teacher in Lancashire; she is now one of only 8 in the UK to receive the accreditation. She can now deliver up to date climate change and plans to share Best Practice in an inset day on 2nd September 2019 with all teaching staff, so that they too can take part in this new innovative programme being trialled in UK Schools.
Mrs Gray is the Head of Geography at St Cecilia’s RC High School and is keen to drive the climate change agenda forward in the school, most recently by organising a workshop in coordination with Sheffield-based charity ‘Hope for the Future’. Special guests included Nigel Evans MP and the Mayor of Longridge, Steve Ashcroft, who each delivered a speech on how to combat climate change and promote good environmental practice before taking questions from pupils.
Speaking from Longridge, Mr Evans said:
“It was amazing to see so many young people engaged in topics relating to climate change and environmental awareness at St Cecilia’s. This is no doubt largely due to the insightful teaching of Rachael Gray, who has emphasised the importance of combatting climate change not only to pupils but also to other staff members and stakeholders.
“I congratulate her on becoming one of eight UK recipients of the UN climate change accreditation for teachers, and I hope that more will follow. I wish to thank Hope for the Future for their help in organising the event, and also the pupils for their genuine interest in the subject matter and explorative questions.”
Headteacher at St Cecilia’s RC High School, Mr Ivan Catlow said: “It is well documented why we cannot ignore the impact of climate change and the devastating effect this has on the most needy in our world. This has been a theme running across school all this year and will continue to be ever present. I am extremely pleased with the accreditation Mrs Gray has achieved and look forward to seeing a wider impact across school.”
The UN Climate Change Teacher Academy is being delivered by Harwood Education, in partnership with the One United Nations Climate Change Learning Partnership, it is designed to equip educators with the knowledge and confidence to deliver lessons on the topic of climate change to their class and across the school curriculum.