In June 2026, the Department for Education opened a public consultation so that the public can have their say on what content is included in the long-awaited proposed Natural History GCSE.

This is an exciting and rare opportunity to help young people to connect with rivers, the threats they face, the myriad benefits they offer, and the innovative solutions that are currently - or need to be - deployed to secure their healthy future.

But this relies on rivers and catchment health being included properly in the course syllabus - something that you can now help shape.

The public consultation includes an online form, or the option to respond by email. To stand up for rivers and tell the Government that these vital habitats should be properly included in this GCSE, you can use the draft email template below.

We have reviewed the consultation and made some key recommendations for several of the questions.

To help us get rivers onto the course content, you can:

Copy the below and paste it into an email.
Add a personal story or reflection. Perhaps share what rivers mean to you, or how you think your own kids, family members, or wider society would benefit from this opportunity to connect with rivers.
Add your name.
Send it to [email protected]

Draft email template

Subject: Consultation response: GCSE natural history proposed subject content

Dear Department for Education Qualifications Policy Team,

I am writing in response to the consultation on the proposed subject content of the Natural History GCSE, and feel strongly that there’s a case for ensuring that celebrating and restoring rivers is featured in the course content.

I strongly support the introduction of the qualification and am pleased to see the emphasis on understanding UK habitats and human influences on the natural environment. The GCSE will help young people develop a meaningful connection with nature and a deeper understanding of the environmental challenges and opportunities facing the UK – something we, and our waterways, desperately need.

[Add a personal anecdote about what rivers mean to you, or how you connect with your local river, here]

Question 11.

The course specification should place greater emphasis on rivers and streams throughout the course. While I particularly welcome the inclusion of freshwater habitats within the proposed content, flowing waters appear largely as one habitat type among many, despite their critical role in joining up fragmented habitats across landscapes and supporting wider biodiversity within other habitats.

Rivers and streams are among the most important and loved habitats in the UK. They support a rich diversity of wildlife, connect landscapes, provide drinking water, help reduce flood risk, store carbon and contribute to people’s health and wellbeing. They are also among the most heavily impacted environments, facing pressures from pollution, habitat modification, water scarcity and climate change. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate and boost young people's understanding of them.

The proposed course content would be strengthened by making clearer reference to the ecological importance of natural, free-flowing freshwater environments. Students should develop an understanding of:

The relationship between healthy land and healthy rivers
The role of catchments in connecting landscapes and habitats
The movement of water, nutrients and species through freshwater systems
The role of healthy rivers in supporting climate resilience and nature’s recovery

Question 12

I also encourage greater emphasis on the contemporary challenges affecting river environments. While the specification rightly considers human influences on the natural world, many of the key issues facing our rivers, such as chemical pollution, over-abstraction, river straightening, barriers and invasive non-native species, are currently missing and should be included.

In addition, I would like to see stronger recognition of nature recovery and ecological restoration included in the course materials. Young people should have opportunities to learn about the impactful and inspiring practical conservation measures that are already being used across the UK, including wetland creation, floodplain reconnection, river rewiggling, and native species recovery or reintroduction projects. Understanding successful solutions and providing young people with practical experience is just as important as understanding environmental problems.

Question 13.

Finally, I strongly support the fieldwork requirements, and rivers and streams offer excellent opportunities for outdoor learning. Activities such as habitat surveys, species identification, tree and wetland planting, invasive species removal, water quality monitoring and citizen science projects can help students develop observation and recording skills while building a stronger connection to their local environment.

Thank you for considering my views within your consultation.

Sincerely,

[Add your name]