Leaders for a Changing World

BNP Paribas UK has announced a three-year sustainability education partnership with Teach First and Gemserv, a low carbon consultancy.

The ‘Leaders for a Changing World’ programme will run from 2022 to 2025, enabling the programme to primarily support 14,000 young people through the recruitment, training and placement of 110 teachers across Teach First’s partner schools, specifically serving disadvantaged communities across England.

The programme also delivers four sustainability lessons strategically aligned with the school curriculum across various subjects and age groups, produced in partnership with Gemserv. The resources will be freely available to all teachers in the UK, accessible via the online teaching platform Times Education Supplement (TES) and includes:

• Renewable Energy and Electricity: Powering a Net-Zero Future (GCSE Physics)
• Sustainable Financing for a Net Zero Future (GCSE Business Studies)
• Sustainable Cities: Air pollution in Urban Environments (GCSE Geography)
• How to Live Sustainably (Key Stage 2)

Lesson 1: Renewable Energy and Electricity: Powering a Net Zero Future (GCSE Physics)

The first lesson in the series is called Powering a Net Zero Future. Designed for teaching GCSE Physics specification parts AQA 4.1.3, Edexcel 3.13, 3.14, OCR P8.2A, P8.2B, to students ages 14 -16 via a video animation and lesson activities. This lesson explains the context of energy resources to tackle climate change, as a hook for pupils, as well as teaching the specifics needed to develop the required knowledge on energy sources.

Lesson 2: Sustainable Financing for a Net Zero Future (GCSE Business Studies)

The second lesson in the series is called Sustainable Finance for a Net Zero future. The session aims to support students years 9, 10, or 11( 13-16 years old) with their learning for GCSE Business Studies, focussing on the sources of finance part of the curriculum. A series of fun, interactive and informative activities will help pupils to learn about sources of finance, how finance is a crucial tool to be used in tackling climate change and BNP Paribas’ role in this (accompanied by a video animation This 1 hr 30 minute lesson is primarily delivered by teachers, however BNP Paribas staff in certain geographical locations are trained volunteers, able to deliver the lesson face to face, alongside the teacher.

Lesson 3: Sustainable Cities: Air Pollution in Urban Environments (GCSE Geography)

The third lesson in the series is called Sustainable Cities: Air Pollution in Urban Environments, with their learning for GCSE Geography, focussing on the sustainable urban development sections of the curriculum. This 1 hour lesson is primarily delivered by teachers. The lesson takes an in-depth look at air pollution as an applied case study. Critical to making cities more sustainable is the role of businesses. The lesson addresses BNP Paribas’ role in promoting more sustainable cities and tackling air pollution through their work. It will be accompanied by a video animation.

Lesson 4: How to Live Sustainably (Key Stage 2)

This lesson is aimed at a younger audience, ages 7-11, focusing on ways to save energy, water and food and to reuse and recycle consumer items. “How to Live Sustainably” combines a broad curriculum of Maths, Geography, Art and Citizenship with fun activities laden with learning opportunities. With this in mind, the lesson can be used by teachers as both an interesting supplement to existing school curriculums or as a standalone sustainability lesson.