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Festival of Education: preparing students for a sustainable future

Cambridge leads the sustainability agenda at the UK's Festival of Education in July, with an exhibition hub and presentations to support educators and students to take on climate challenges and prepare for the jobs of the future.

Jun 29 2023

Education debate

The thirteen annual Festival of Education takes place on 6-7 July at Wellington College in Berkshire, UK. Over 5,000 teachers and school leaders are expected to attend the Festival for the opportunity to listen, debate, develop and network.

Leading the sustainability debate at the festival is an opportunity to discuss the challenges facing us as educators and identify reasons for optimism.

Christine Özden, Global Director of Climate Education, says "We are looking at education for sustainability and climate, developing the knowledge, skills and, global and local thinking to prepare learners for a different kind of future. Leading the sustainability debate at the festival is an opportunity to discuss the challenges facing us as educators and identify reasons for optimism. The climate emergency is one of the most important global issues of our time and we have a responsibility and the capability to be part of the solution."

Empowering educators

The Sustainability Hub, located at the centre of the Festival site, brings together not-for-profit organisations, alongside teams from across Cambridge University Press & Assessment, to help Festival goers find ways to implement effective and high-quality climate and sustainability education, with accessibility and practical application at the forefront.

Logos of the Organisations that are members of the sustainability hub at the Festival of Education 2023

Talking sustainability

Sustainability will be discussed throughout the Festival, with a dedicated strand on sustainability and climate change on Friday 7 July, which includes a panel discussion with leading naturalist and television presenter Chris Packham.

Cambridge is running three key sessions:

Building equity - Closing the green gap: helping students prepare for the jobs of the future

Thursday 6 July, 12:45 – 13:30, venue 7

How can we help today’s learners, whatever their background, in preparing them for the jobs of the future: sustainable, clean tech and a rapidly shifting economy and society? What is the reality faced by schools at present? Dr Amy Munro-Faure from Cambridge Zero will chair this panel discussion.

Student wellbeing - What is wellbeing? From antiquity to academia to educational activity

Friday 7 July, 09:30-10:15, in the Great School

We offer three key reasons why schools should focus upon wellbeing, including the research evidence of its link with attainment. We also explore why wellbeing is worth evaluating or assessing and consider how wellbeing can be improved within schools, and what a whole school approach to enhancing wellbeing can look like in practice. Dr Irenka Suto from Cambridge Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring explores the subject.

Sustainability and climate change - Inspiration and implementation: putting climate change and sustainability know-how into educational practice

Friday 7 July, 12:45 – 13:30, venue 10

Jonathan Dewsbury, who leads on sustainability at the Department for Education, and Emily Shuckburgh, director of the University of Cambridge’s major climate change initiative – Cambridge Zero, will be in conversation with Cambridge's climate education global lead, Christine Özden.