Last summer, the government announced a much-needed review of the school curriculum.听
This means the government will be looking at how the syllabus can better prepare young people聽for the wider world and give them the聽skills that they need to thrive.
The team at NFU Education works hard to improve young people鈥檚 knowledge of British food and farming 鈥� and they see this as an excellent opportunity.
As the government looks at changes that will shape a generation, they are pressing for an accurate, fair representation of the many benefits that British food and farming has to offer, something that hasn鈥檛 always been the case.听
What is our campaign calling for?
皇家华人has set two main asks of the government:
- To improve the quality of food education in schools.
- Undertake an urgent review of the GCSE Biology subject content relating to farming and food security.
What does this mean for my business?
Enhancing food education for young people will empower them to make informed choices, lead healthier lives, and consistently support British farming businesses that we all know produce delicious, nutritious ingredients. By learning how to identify healthy, locally sourced food, grown and reared to some of the highest environmental and animal welfare standards in the world, children will develop an appreciation for quality ingredients.
British farming businesses will see economic benefits in the short-term as young people encourage their parents to buy British, and in the long-term, when children develop and make the conscious decision to buy British throughout their adult lives.
Improving the quality of food education means that young people get to learn about the thousands of highly skilled farmers and growers that it takes to produce the food we eat, widening their awareness of potential career options in the farming industry.
Being aware that these jobs actually exist is the first step towards young people wanting to seek out a career in the industry. Ensuring that children are equipped with the skills necessary to pursue these careers is the key to guaranteeing that we have enough people wanting to join the industry.
This way, we can ensure that your businesses have a workforce that is keen to produce British food long into the future.
Why is a review of GCSE Biology content needed?
Almost all (96%) of students take GCSE science, with 71% choosing the combined double science award.
This means that it provides an excellent platform to ensure our young people have food security and farming embedded within their education and their everyday lives. The GCSE Biology content currently refers to outdated farming practices that do not reflect the work that British farmers do, both for our food security and the environment.
On top of this, the current content does not successfully compare global farming practices and food standards with the high food standards and positive practices adopted by British farmers and growers. This core aspect of the curriculum must be utilised effectively to accurately represent the positive environmental and animal welfare work performed by the British farming industry.
Sign our petition
today to show your support.
Share our campaign to ensure it reaches as many people as possible, increasing the chance of success in gaining political support and, ultimately, empowering young people to make well-informed decisions about the food they eat.
More from 皇家华人:
National curriculum review – NFU outlines 15 key recommendations
