Children, young people and education
Resources and links
This page contains a wide range of information and links aimed at all of Defra's customers including children and young people:
- Latest development and events
- Defra information
- Government sites for children and young people
- Education resources
Latest development and events
- Youth Green Paper - Youth Matters
On 18 July 2005 the Government published the Youth Green Paper. It addresses key issues relating to how we support and challenge our teenagers. Government is seeking to consult young people, parents and professionals on the proposals to enable young people to have more choice and influence over services and facilities that are available to them. See: www.dfes.gov.uk/publications/youth/ - The Local Government Association's Local Democracy Week (LDW) works towards encouraging and helping young people (up to age 26) become more involved with decision-making and planning at a local level with a series of events. For more information and case studies visit http://www.localdemocracy.org.uk
Defra information
-
Evidence and Innovation: Defra's needs from the sciences over the next 10 years
(80 KB) - Defra is developing a plan to get the scientific information
it needs to make good decisions over the next 10 years. This booklet
for young people set out what we think the most important issues are
and what we will need to find out. It asked young people what they
think and if we are paying attention to the right issues. Their replies
were compiled and can be seen in this summary What
you told us
(45 KB). A more detailed analysis is available from the Science Strategy
Team. - Plant Health Information for Schools - aiming to minimise
outbreaks of serious plant diseases and pests, partly by stopping alien
pests getting into the UK, and partly by keeping a high standard of
Plant Health in some important economic crops.
See www.defra.gov.uk/planth/publicat/colhome.htm
Government sites for children and young people
There are two main sites run by the government for young people.
-
Need2know - this site aims to provide information to young people. It covers everything form health and relationships, to finding out facts about the law and how it affects young people.
See www.need2know.co.uk/ -
YoungGov - this site has information on all the major government policies.
See http://younggov.ukonline.gov.uk/oee/youth.nsf/sections/homepage/$file/home.htm
Education resources
Relevant Government websites and other information for teachers and students include:
-
Teachernet - the government's website aimed at giving help and support to teachers.
See www.teachernet.gov.uk/ - Qualifications and Curriculum Authority website - The QCA
maintains and develops the national curriculum and associated assessments,
tests and examinations; and accredits and monitors qualifications in
colleges and at work.
See www.qca.org.uk/
It also has a site devoted to Education for sustainable development.
See www.nc.uk.net/esd/index.htm
-
DfES website - features pages on how DfES is addressing the challenges of sustainable development
See www.dfes.gov.uk/sd/ -
Growing Schools initiative - aims to link schools more closely with farming and the countryside. It also aims to enhance teaching and learning through farming and growing. Defra is one of the members of the initiative's steering group, along with the Department for Education and Skills, the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens and several other organisations with links to farming or education
See www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachingandlearning/resourcematerials/growingschools/ -
Access to Farms: Defra is involved in the Access to Farms partnership which promotes quality educational visits to farms. Their website publicises all the information that schools need to know before visiting a farm.
See www.farmsforteachers.org.uk -
Biotechnology Commission (AEBC) - Government's independent adviser on developments in biotechnology and their implications for agriculture and the environment. It has been advising the Government on GM issues since 2000 and is keen to share information and findings with a wider audience, especially younger people. The new booklet Biotechnology and Farming - What have the Government's advisers been saying?
(available on AEBC website) is a distillation of three major reports
in a "user-friendly" form. It's an easily accessible guide
to the agricultural and environmental issues the Commission has studied
in depth - suitable for organisations with an interest in these areas,
students and the wider public. If you would like to receive (free)
hard copies of this booklet or have any questions, please contact
the Biotechnology Commission on 020 7215 6508, or email craig.d.johnson@dti.gsi.gov.uk.
See www.aebc.gov.uk/aebc/index.shtml -
Forest School National Conference 2006 - Forest Schools encourage young people to appreciate the natural environment through education. A practice in Denmark from the early eighties, they also use the outdoor environment to develop confidence through tasks. See http://www.evesham.ac.uk/forest
Further information is available on our Help
page about downloading or reading Adobe Acrobat 
documents.
Page last modified:
3 January 2007
Page published: 21 January 2004