FEATURE FOCUS: SUSTAINABILITY


learning company, we will be introducing the opportunity to formally accredit the Bloxham Sustainability Challenge through our newly designed Geospatial Innovation Pathway. Created specifically to host the Challenge, this pathway will align learner activity to Pearson Edexcel’s Level 3 Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). Students who complete the Challenge via this route will have the opportunity to gain a qualification worth roughly half an A-Level along with valuable UCAS points, supporting learner progression and enabling contextual offers for those applying to university.


Closing thoughts


Sustainability education is no longer an option – it’s a necessity. Academic institutions that embrace this shift will equip their students for a future where environmental decision-making is central to every sector. The demand for green skills is accelerating, and the next generation must be ready to lead on key issues affecting our planet.


That’s why initiatives like the Bloxham Sustainability Challenge matter. By connecting education with industry and embedding real- world problem-solving into the curriculum, the BSC ensures students develop the technical expertise and critical thinking needed to shape tomorrow’s solutions.


The Challenge may have begun as a single- school initiative, but it is now a growing movement. Institutions from Rochdale Sixth Form College to Maidstone Grammar School for Girls and Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen have embraced the programme, reflecting a shared commitment to equipping young people with the competencies required for a net-zero future.


The impact on students


This year’s Bloxham Sustainability Challenge was launched at the Royal Geographical Society in September, providing an inspiring setting for the students in attendance. To ensure inclusivity, the launch was also livestreamed to schools unable to attend in person. The 2025–26 theme asks a pivotal question: “Should South Kyle II Onshore Wind Farm go ahead?” Based on Vattenfall’s proposed development in South-West Scotland, the brief reflects the real-world complexity of renewable energy planning. During the BSC Launch Event, students engaged with experts from academia, industry, and government to explore the complexities of renewable energy planning. Feedback from participants on previous Challenges highlights the depth of learning achieved. Students reported gaining a clearer understanding of the trade-offs involved in planning renewable energy projects and the value of applying GIS technology. Many reflected that the experience strengthened their ability to critically evaluate sustainability issues and inspired future study choices.


Challenges ahead December 2025 www.education-today.co.uk 35


While students are actively engaged in their plans for onshore windfarms as part of the current Challenge, the BSC team already have their eye on the future.


The next phase of the Bloxham Sustainability Challenge will tackle real-world infrastructure dilemmas linked to the East West Rail project and the arrival of Universal Studios in Bedfordshire. As with all BSC’s to date, the newest Challenge will push students beyond theory into applied sustainability problem-solving, demanding they provide evidence-based recommendations, and creative mitigation strategies.


To strengthen the academic value of this work, we are delighted to announce that in collaboration with Pearson, the world’s leading


Jack Dangermond, Founder and President of Esri, believes that today’s geospatial thinkers are increasingly ‘geo-generalists’ - individuals who apply spatial thinking across many disciplines. From public health to marketing, from climate science to logistics, GIS is becoming a core competency for professionals in a wide range of fields.


The Bloxham Sustainability Challenge gives students that edge. And it is the power of collaboration – between schools, industry, and technology partners – that makes this possible. To find out more, visit: www.


bloxhamsustainabilitychallenge.com or sign up using the QR code.


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