Curricular Links
The following energy-related concepts and skills are wholly or partly covered by national curricular in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In addition, communicating information about energy can by done through activities in language, art, drama and music.
- Applying calculations and using energy data in real life contexts
- Problem solving, reasoning and communicating findings
- Using graphs and tables
- Using standard units such as kWh
- Collecting and interpreting data to make informed decisions about real life situations (e.g. measuring temperature)
- Understanding the transfer and conservation of energy
- Understanding the effect of the burning of fossil fuels on the environment
- Knowing that electricity is generated from different sources
- Knowing that energy can be stored
- Understanding the impacts of energy use and issues such as global warming and climate change
- Knowing that energy sources are both renewable and non-renewable and that non-renewable sources, such as fossil fuels, have a finite life.
- Understanding the factors that affect location of energy supplies and electricity generation (e.g. oil and gas fields, location of wind farms)
- Understanding that increasing global energy demands will impact on energy supplies and costs for the UK
- Understanding how changes in lifestyles have led to an increased demand for energy
- Making comparisons of energy use in the home today compared with that of older relatives
- Recognising the application of control and feedback systems in the real world
- Evaluating products and appliances in terms of their energy consumption
- Understanding how design trends can impact on energy use
- Showing concern for the comfort of others and a commitment to sustainable development
- Participating in and taking responsibility for minimising the home’s environmental impact
- Adopting a sustainable lifestyle
- Recognising that personal choices affect the environment
- Understanding global interdependence and responsibility
- Accepting responsibility for maintaining a sustainable environment for future generations
- Using technological tools to find, explore, and analyse information
- Using ICT to develop creativity, thinking and problem solving skills, collaboration and independent learning
- Using ICT to make informed judgments
- England
- Scotland
- Wales
- Northern Ireland
Details of the National Curriculum for England are available from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
A new curriculum for secondary schools has been developed for introduction in September 2008. The new programmes of study have been designed to give teachers a less prescriptive, more flexible framework for teaching, creating more scope to tailor the curriculum to meet the needs of each individual student. The changes raise the profile of teaching about climate change and sustainable energy and will facilitate a more investigative approach to learning about energy.
The curricular areas for 5-14 education have a different labeling to some of the subjects in other the nations. The humanities are covered by People and Place, People in the Past, People in Society and Personal and Social Development. However the energy linked concepts and skills in these areas are more or less the same as those featured in traditionally named subjects such as Geography, History and PSHE.
For further details see:
There is no national curriculum for the 14-16 age group. At 14 pupils choose the courses they will study leading to the Scottish Certificate of Education or awards offered by the Scottish Vocational Education Council.
The Scottish curriculum is currently going through a national review called Curriculum for Excellence with the aim of developing a streamlined curriculum for 3-18-year-olds and implementing new approaches to assessment.
Details of the review can be found at:
The National Curriculum for Wales is very similar to the English curriculum throughout the four Key Stages. However, in addition to the basic curriculum for every maintained secondary school in Wales must include work-related education for pupils aged 14-16 and secondary schools are also required to provide a programme of careers education for all young people aged 13 – 19.
Details are available from:
Information on careers education is available at:
The curricular areas for 5-16 education have a different labeling to some of the subjects in other the nations. At Key Stages 1 & 2 the subjects of science, geography, history and PHSE are covered by The World Around Us which is organised under the four inter-related strands, Interdependence, Place, Change Over Time, Movement and Energy. At Key Stages 3 & 4 these strands become Environment and Society, Science and Technology and Learning for Life and Work. All strands over the three Key Stages offer opportunities for energy studies.
Details of the Northern Ireland Curriculum are available at
