When ecological risk becomes a planning assumption: reading the National Security Assessment with care

Posted on by Kit Marie Rackley (they/she)

Part 4 of the "This isn’t activism, it’s duty of care" series. Recent reports highlight the intersection of climate change, education, and responsibility, specifically the UK government's National Security Assessment on biodiversity loss. This internal document emphasises foreseeable risks to food, water, health, and economic stability. It calls for awareness and preparation rather than prescriptive measures, advocating for ecological risk acknowledgment in education. Thus, climate literacy should focus on safeguarding rather than activism, fostering resilience and understanding amid uncertainty.

Infographic showing key findings on environmental impact: 40% transport, 27% energy, 32% food, 72% scope 3 emissions, under 1% water/waste, over a blurred image of children outdoors.

Schools are not neutral: What school carbon data reveals about responsibility, modelling, and care

Posted on by Kit Marie Rackley (they/she)

Part 3 of the "This Isn't Activism: It's a Duty of Care" series discusses the findings of the Count Your Carbon 2026 report, which analyses carbon emissions from over 1,600 schools in England. It reveals that structural decisions, such as transportation and food sourcing, significantly contribute to school emissions, often beyond children’s control. I emphasise that framing climate responsibility on students is misleading and may lead to emotional burdens, and so there is a need for institutional honesty and alignment of actions with the realities of carbon impact to support safeguarding rather than shifting blame onto young people.

A bar chart shows that most children and young people in England agree that being in nature makes them happy, with 40% completely agreeing and 29% strongly agreeing.

Children already know this matters: What Natural England’s Survey tells us about wellbeing, inequality, and care

Posted on by Kit Marie Rackley (they/she)

Part 2 of the "This Isn't Activism: It's a Duty of Care" series on climate education. I look at the importance of understanding children's experiences and relationships with nature as revealed in the Children’s People and Nature Survey for England, highlighting that most children feel happy in nature, but access to it is uneven, influenced by factors like income and ethnicity. Safeguarding frameworks need to account for these inequalities, as children’s emotional connections to nature exist before climate-related concerns. Educators should approach these topics with care, awareness, and honesty rather than avoidance or panic.

This isn’t activism, it’s duty of care: What three recent reports tell us about climate change, young people, and responsibility in education

Posted on by Kit Marie Rackley (they/she)

The start of a series of blog posts focusing on climate literacy and institutional responsibility, examining the complex issues children face. By analysing recent reports, the series aims to slow down the conversation and emphasise professional duties toward young people's wellbeing. It will challenge existing narratives and explore safeguarding implications.

Curriculum Reform: Climate, Justice and Missed Opportunities

Posted on by Kit Marie Rackley (they/she)

The DfE’s Curriculum and Assessment Review and the government’s response promise a “world-class curriculum for all” by 2028. There are wins: climate and sustainability named, oracy and media literacy pushed forward, and EBacc losing its grip. But there are gaps that matter.

Curriculum Reform, Climate Literacy & Safeguarding: Decolonising What We Teach (and Why) in Light of the DfE Review

Posted on by Kit Marie Rackley (they/she)

The Department for Education's Curriculum and Assessment Review outlines potential educational reforms by 2028. While improvements are noted, significant gaps remain in curriculum time and assessment for climate education. Action steps for school leaders to mitigate shortfalls include embedding climate education into policies, assessing decolonial practices, and enhancing teacher training. A free subscription is required to read this post.

Drake Primary School’s Climate Journey: A Success Story

Posted on by Kit Marie Rackley (they/she)

Drake Primary shows how climate action and safeguarding can work hand-in-hand. From energy audits to outdoor learning and eco-anxiety support, their journey proves sustainability isn’t an add-on—it’s a mindset. Here’s what schools can learn from their whole-school approach.

Beyond the Chalkface: Geography Teachers as Leaders in the Climate Crisis Era

Posted on by Kit Marie Rackley (they/she)

The climate crisis is a safeguarding issue. Geography teachers are on the front line. My new chapter in 'What is Geography Teaching, Now?' is out now. I explore how we can move beyond teaching dire facts to become storytellers and enablers for a generation facing eco-anxiety. Discover the simple language shift that empowers students and explore my free interactive framework for building climate literacy.

Unlocking Resources: A Small Shift for My Blog

Posted on by Kit Marie Rackley (they/she)

A transition to a free subscription model for educational resources to sustainably create free learning materials. Subscribing costs nothing and allows access to popular guides. This change aims to enhance understanding of the audience and support ongoing production of high-quality content while existing free posts remain accessible.

Unlock Holistic Climate Action: A Free Resource for Schools Bridging Statutory Compliance with Meaningful Sustainability

Posted on by Kit Marie Rackley (they/she)

The toolkit 'Linking education setting statutory documents and approaches to Climate Action Plans' enables schools to integrate Climate Action Plans with statutory policies effectively. It offers activities, checklists, and templates to embed sustainability into school operations, enhancing accountability and facilitating compliance with Department for Education requirements.