This new course focuses on the sustainability of our planet and the issues affecting the natural world. The course is examined with two exams and has a strong focus on practical science skills and some maths. Students will complete four days of fieldwork and will have the chance to join international trips to locations such as Iceland, Italy, The Azores and Sri Lanka.
Understanding the workings of our planet and its systems are key to human survival, studying issues such as pollution, conservation and mining provide the key for us to both thrive and to develop new green technologies. This course is multi disciplinary and students will use scientific experiments, data collection, statistics and field work to understand issues affecting the local area. The Tees Valley is a key area for ‘green’ jobs and funding and creating students ready to contribute to a sustainable future for our planet.
Students with a strong science background are required. 15% of the course is based on practical knowledge with around 10% being based on maths and statistics. There is some essay writing and students need to be able to discuss wide ranging issues and develop their opinions using examples from around the world to justify their decision.
We will be carrying out regular practical’s that include cookie mining, worm charming, invertebrate studies and water quality surveys around the local area. We will visit a range of local environments including sand dunes, the nuclear power station, a coffee roastery, a lobster hatchery and there is also the chance to join trips to Iceland, The Azores, Italy and Sri Lanka.
We have recently had guest speakers that include a Rhino monitoring scientist using satellite imaging to monitor poaching and a climate scientist from aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough in Greenland. Students will also have the chance to join the IRIS project and create original research that is published and presented at a national conference.
“The activities are so creative and fun, learning about the earth and environment is really interesting. Every lesson we talk about current events and have conversations about really important topics.”
Rachel, Year 12, 2026
The Green sector is the fastest growing area for jobs in the UK and especially in the Tees valley, you can go into a wide range of careers that include research into energy sources, consulting, conservation, policy making, hydrology, mining, exploration, education and much more.
This is a science subject and works well with biology, chemistry, physics and applied science, there is also overlap with the A level Geography curriculum. There is an essay requirement so humanities subjects like psychology, sociology and history also work well.