Why study A-Level Environmental Science? (Year 11)

Post-16 choices shouldn't be made on syllabus details alone. This lesson plan will help you to show Year 11 students whether A-Level Environmental Science or another post-16 route fits them best, drawing on the jobs it leads to and the skills it builds.

This lesson is designed to be delivered in 30 minutes as a teacher-led classroom activity.

Environmental Science isn't taught at GCSE, so this lesson is best hosted in a Biology, Chemistry, or Geography class - the subjects most likely to attract students drawn to Environmental Science. The lesson assumes no Environmental Science subject expertise from the host teacher.

This activity supports the following frameworks:

  • Gatsby Benchmark 4

This activity is suitable for Year 11 and features careers linked to the following subjects:

  • Environmental Science

This is one of three lesson plans designed for Year 11 teachers introducing students to Environmental Science:

These lesson plans will help you show students how Environmental Science connects to their future careers - whether or not they go on to study it at A-Level.

We recommend using this lesson plan at the beginning of the spring term, as students approach their post-16 choices. It builds on the two earlier lesson plans and draws them together to help students make an informed decision.

A-Level Environmental Science is one post-16 route among several - and because Environmental Science isn't a GCSE, many students reach this point without having seriously considered it. This lesson plan helps them decide whether it's the right choice for them, or whether Environmental Science-style skills fit their future better through another route.

Learning objectives

  • Students will understand what studying A-Level Environmental Science involves.
  • Students will recognise how Environmental Science fits different post-16 routes.
  • Students will be able to say whether A-Level Environmental Science is right for them and why.

Before the lesson

  • You will need a computer connected to the internet and a classroom screen.
  • Open the What can you do with Environmental Science? page and have it ready on the screen.
  • Review the page in full so you know what's in each section.

During the lesson

1. Recap: jobs and skills (5 mins)

  • Ask students to recall what they discussed in the earlier Year 11 lessons:
    • What jobs use Environmental Science?
    • What skills does Environmental Science build, and where else do they build them?
  • Write their answers on the board as a quick recap.

2. Walking through the page (15 mins)

  • Bring up the What can you do with Environmental Science? page on the classroom screen.
  • Show students the table of contents so they see the shape of what's on the page.
  • Walk through the key sections together, unpacking why each one matters for their post-16 decisions:
    • Environmental Science at A-Level - What the course covers (the living environment, the physical environment, human impact and sustainability, and fieldwork) and what kind of work it asks of you.
    • Subjects that pair with Environmental Science - Which other A-Level choices work well alongside it, and which pairings suit different routes.
    • Where Environmental Science can take you next - The routes Environmental Science students take, including T-Levels, apprenticeships, university degrees, and direct entry into work.
  • If your school offers A-Level Environmental Science, briefly outline the syllabus, exam board, and assessment methods.

3. Is A-Level Environmental Science right for you? (10 mins)

  • Ask students to think about whether A-Level Environmental Science fits their post-16 plan.
  • Prompt them with questions:
    • Do the skills Environmental Science builds appeal to you - evidence and data literacy, systems thinking, modelling, decision-making under uncertainty, fieldwork, and communicating findings?
    • Do the jobs Environmental Science leads to interest you, and how are they reached?
    • Does A-Level Environmental Science pair well with your other post-16 choices, and would it open the right doors for the courses or careers you're considering?
    • Would a different route work better - an A-Level set built around Biology, Chemistry, or Geography that builds similar skills, a science-based or land-management T-Level, or an apprenticeship in an environmental field?
  • Close by reminding students that the best post-16 choice is the one they'll engage with - whether that's A-Level Environmental Science, a different A-Level mix, an apprenticeship, or going straight into work. Interest and effort are what lead to good results, and good results open doors.

After the lesson

  • Share the What can you do with Environmental Science? page with students and their parents/carers:
    • www.coffeewith.xyz/subjects/what-can-you-do-with-environmental-science
  • Encourage parents/carers to explore the page with their child and to discuss the contents.
  • Encourage parents/carers to also explore related videos and careers with their child.
  • Use the School Tools / Activities feature to record the lesson activity:
    • Activity name: Year 11 - Why study A-Level Environmental Science?
    • Activity type: Linking curriculum learning to careers