The Course

Through the delivery of the learning outcomes within the Unifying Strand, students gradually acquire a set of competencies. These have been informed by the eight UNESCO competencies for Sustainability. Students develop an understanding of interdependence and interconnectedness, vision multiple futures, reflect on normal and values, question assumptions to deepen their capacity for critical thinking. Students are supported to explore and reflect on their lives in the context of global inequalities and to express and deal with their feelings about climate change.

This strand ultimately brings students to the point where they can produce positive change collectively and apply all the competencies together in an integrated way.

In this strand students explore their own community and sense of belonging and connecting
with nature in a physical place, in part through outdoor learning and engagement with their
communities. Students are encouraged to identify and value their existing skills and to feel
connected to the environment and other people locally and to explore sustainability principles
that apply to their communities.

In this strand students think about value systems in different societies, climate science, analysing
root causes of climate change and possible solutions. Students create media to communicate
climate science with their peers and others and explore climate justice and how it links to other
issues of justice.

This strand supports students to take the leap from knowledge, skills and attitudes that support
empowerment, to take action in small groups for a more sustainable world. Students connect
with others and appreciate that they can be part of a wider movement to protect the earth and
everyone affected by climate change. Students learn about the actions of others as a source of
inspiration and motivation, learn action skills so that they can self-organise, learn about challenges
and barriers to climate action and learn practical skills for a sustainable world.