The UK Government’s Department for Education is consulting on a proposed Natural History GCSE for England, including a requirement for at least 20 hours of fieldwork.
LRG members can contribute expertise on landscape change, human–environment relationships, fieldwork, nature connectedness, land management and access to nature. Although the qualification is for England, the consultation is open to individual and organisational responses.
The consultation closes on 4 September 2026.
Where landscape expertise can contribute →
The Department for Education is consulting on the proposed subject content for a new GCSE in Natural History, with responses invited until 4 September 2026.
The proposals have significant connections with landscape research and practice, particularly around fieldwork, landscape change, human–environment relationships, nature connectedness, land management and equitable access to nature.
Of particular interest is the proposed requirement for students to undertake at least 20 hours of fieldwork. The proposed skills include landscape analysis, observation and recording, field notebooks, photography and film, citizen science and other approaches to investigating environments.
LRG encourages members with relevant research or professional expertise to respond directly to the consultation. You do not need to answer every question: responses addressing the areas where you have particular knowledge or experience can help strengthen the evidence informing the new qualification.
Landscape perspectives could be particularly valuable in considering how the GCSE addresses:
- landscape as the product of interacting natural and human processes;
- human influence, land use and land management;
- fieldwork and approaches to reading and understanding landscapes;
- nature connectedness, place and people’s relationships with environments;
- urban and everyday landscapes as valuable settings for natural-history study; and
- equality of access to meaningful fieldwork and experiences of nature.
Members do not need to respond to every question in the consultation. Those of particular relevance to landscape research and practice include:
- Q11 – UK habitats and wildlife: including how landscapes and wildlife have changed over time.
- Q12 – Human influence on the natural world: including urbanisation and planning, agriculture, forestry, conservation and land management.
- Q13–14 – Fieldwork: including the proposed fieldwork requirements and the requirement for a minimum number of fieldwork hours.
- Q19 – Further feedback: an opportunity to raise wider issues or perspectives not adequately captured elsewhere.
- Q20–21 – Equality and access: including potential impacts on different groups and how the qualification can support equality of opportunity.
- Q22 – Environmental impacts: including implications for land management, wildlife, natural resources, waters and outdoor recreation.
Members are particularly encouraged to respond where they can draw on research evidence, professional practice or direct experience.
The consultation closes on 4 September 2026.