Level 1 Competency Framework in Teaching for a Sustainable Future
For staff who are new or inexperienced with issues of sustainability and its role in developing learner knowledge and skills.
1️⃣ Climate Basics - Level 1
Explains core climate and sustainability concepts, including the SDGs, in simple, accurate terms.
Performance Criteria:
- ✔️ Explain key climate and sustainability terms to learners in simple language
- ✔️ Introduce 2–3 SDGs in a session and discuss what they mean
- ✔️ Address one common misconception about climate or sustainability using a credible source
2️⃣ Vocational Linking - Level 1
Links sustainability to their subject or industry using relevant, practical examples.
Performance Criteria:
- ✔️ Use a vocational example to show how sustainability affects their subject area
- ✔️ Discuss how sustainability features in real workplace practice or job roles
- ✔️ Include a sustainability angle in a subject-specific task or scenario
3️⃣ Evidence Literacy - Level 1
Uses simple, credible sources to support sustainability content.
Performance Criteria:
- ✔️ Use a credible source to support a sustainability point in teaching
- ✔️ Model how to check whether a source is reliable
- ✔️ Ask learners to use a simple source to support a sustainability claim
4️⃣ Structured Dialogue - Level 1
Uses simple discussion structures to manage respectful and focused conversations about sustainability.
Performance Criteria:
- ✔️ Establish clear ground rules for discussing ethical, social justice, or sensitive sustainability issues
- ✔️ Facilitate discussion of a controversial sustainability issue in a balanced and respectful way
- ✔️ Intervene appropriately when discussion becomes insensitive, inaccurate, or unproductive
5️⃣ Lesson Design - Level 1
Identifies opportunities to embed sustainability and devises suitable lesson outcomes, activities, and assessments.
Performance Criteria:
- ✔️ Plan opportunities to embed sustainability into your curriculum
- ✔️ Devise learning outcomes and activities that include sustainability
- ✔️ Select appropriate assessment methods to check students’ understanding of sustainability
6️⃣ Engaging Learners - Level 1
Uses simple teaching strategies to motivate, support, and involve learners in sustainability discussions.
Performance Criteria:
- ✔️ Use a motivating starter or example linked to sustainability
- ✔️ Provide simple support (prompts, sentence starters, visuals) for learners to take part
- ✔️ Invite learners to share views or experiences about sustainability
7️⃣ Improving Outcomes - Level 1
Enables students to make progress in their knowledge and skills in sustainability and environmental protection.
Performance Criteria:
- ✔️ Use an activity that helps learners apply sustainability knowledge or skills
- ✔️ Check learner understanding before and after a sustainability task
- ✔️ Give brief feedback on learners’ sustainability-related work
8️⃣ Reflect on Practice - Level 1
Reflects on their current sustainability practices and makes improvements.
Performance Criteria:
- ✔️ Reflect on how effectively sustainability was included in a session
- ✔️ Identify one small change to improve future sustainability teaching
- ✔️ Try out that improvement in a later session
Full Teaching for a Sustainable Future Competency Framework
