“Sustainability in Further Education cannot remain a bolt-on. It must become a core professional capability.”
Sustainability Resources for Teachers
Sustainability Training Pathway for Educators
Eight universal competencies that drive development and improvement in teaching and managing sustainability in education
The Eight Competencies Explained
1. Climate Basics
Understanding the key concepts of climate change and sustainability, including the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and their real-world implications.
2. Vocational Linking
Connecting sustainability concepts to vocational subjects, industries, and real workplace practices.
3. Evidence Literacy
Using credible data, research, and sources to inform sustainability teaching and decision-making.
4. Structured Dialogue
Facilitating informed and respectful discussion about complex sustainability issues and differing viewpoints.
5. Lesson Design
Embedding sustainability meaningfully into lesson outcomes, activities, and assessments.
6. Engaging Learners
Motivating learners to participate actively in sustainability learning and apply it in meaningful ways.
7. Improving Outcomes
Supporting learners to develop knowledge, skills, and behaviours that contribute to sustainable futures.
8. Reflect on Practice
Evaluating and improving sustainability teaching and organisational practice through reflection and evidence.
Explanation of Framework
This competency framework has been designed to support educators in further education to embed sustainability meaningfully within teaching, learning, and organisational practice. The eight competencies reflect a progression from foundational sustainability literacy through to applied pedagogical practice and professional reflection. They recognise that effective sustainability education requires not only knowledge of climate and environmental issues, but also the ability to contextualise these within vocational subjects, use credible evidence, facilitate informed dialogue, design purposeful learning experiences, engage learners actively, and evaluate the impact of teaching on learner outcomes. The framework also acknowledges the organisational role of educators and managers in shaping sustainable cultures within institutions. By structuring competencies across foundation, advanced, and leadership levels, the model supports professional development pathways while aligning sustainability capability with everyday teaching practice in further education contexts.
Our Sustainability Competency Frameworks
Level 1 Framework
Foundation Skills
Focus: Teachers and Support Workers
The Level 1 competency framework is for educators needing support and inspiration with embedding sustainability.
Level 2 Framework
Advanced Skills
Focus: Teachers:
The Level 2 competency framework outlines the knowledge and skills of experienced teachers of sustainability, with additional challenge.
Manager Framework
Leading & Managing
Focus: Leaders, managers and coaches
The Manager Level competency framework focuses on strategic knowledge and skills needed to drive forward an organisation's sustainability programme.
Informing, energising, enlightening
Supporting teachers' knowledge and skills in sustainability
“FEthink turns sustainability from aspiration into capability.”
Trailer - Level 1 Course in Teaching for a Sustainable Future
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