Key Stage Four

In Key Stage Four, biodiversity becomes a larger part of the science curriculum and is a dedicated topic at GCSE. Getting students involved with projects to enhance biodiversity within their school can be linked to wider discussions and teachings, for example:

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• Farming and the impacts of monoculture cross over with the importance of biodiversity. Undertaking projects to create a more biodiverse school site could be linked to studying places like the Knepp Estate (in West Sussex), which provide large scale examples of rewilding and the use of agroforestry to enhance biodiversity.

• Problems facing wild populations of species such as cheetahs, which are becoming endangered due to lack of genetic diversity. This could be linked to practical projects to help boost species in the UK and open discussions about the impact of declining populations on species survival.  

• Climate Change/Carbon cycle shifting, the loss sinks and the gain of sources and habitat destruction. Undertaking projects to enhance biodiversity can teach students how they can take positive action towards reversing the biodiversity crisis. Tree planting for example, although small scale could be linked to lessons about the climate crisis and help students feel empowered to address issues which often seem overwhelming.  

The environment: its problems and the solutions, is a subtheme for French GCSE.

Creating a biodiverse school environment helps inspire students to be able to discuss the biggest problems for the planet, the future of our planet, what we can do to save the planet. Even in another language!

Depending on exam boards. GCSE curriculums can include subjects which link to biodiversity, for example:

• The Living World

• Ecosystems

• Tropical Rainforests

• Cold Environments

• The Challenge of Resource Management

• Food supply and demand

Getting students involved with projects to enhance biodiversity within their school can be linked to wider discussions and teachings on these subjects.