One term into the new course IB Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS) seems like a good time to find out how things are progressing.

Dilara, one of the students on the course commented, “ESS is such a broad, open subject that it not only makes connections to Geography and Biology, but also has many links between sub topics. I have really enjoyed studying various environmental issues and interactions between ecosystems from different perspectives.”

Lucy, another ESS student added, “What’s great is that it gives you a completely unique outlook on the world.  It prepares you with the knowledge you need to make informed environmental decisions, in whatever career path you choose to follow, which is an incredibly valuable skill to have.”

This interdisciplinary course offers IB students the opportunity to explore a huge variety of environmental issues that we face as an alternative to the more traditional science subjects.  With a focus on problem-solving at a local through to global scale, IB ESS gives students the skills to break these challenges down and then decide for themselves how they believe they should be tackled.

It’s a course that leads on well to further studies in sustainability, but is also crucial for future leaders to understand.  Grappling with our unknown future is tough, but can be made more accessible with an understanding of these key issues by students across the world.

We ask a lot of questions in our ESS lessons, and have fun sharing our answers:

What would you rather see world peace or the end of climate change?  

Would you like to see a keystone species like Brown bears reintroduced to the UK ecosystems?  After studying the reintroduction of wolves later this year, we’ll be able to tell you what we think! 

Why are Thames Water planning on building a reservoir in Abingdon?  

What tools are there to help our society ensure that the environmental impacts of this vast project are considered carefully in its design and construction?

Student-centred learning activities requires working with others to understand multiple perspectives.

• How ecosystems function in order to understand the effects of human activities. 
• How does your approach to the environment (your value system) affect your decisions?  
• How might it affect decisions you make when you’re running a legal case or a business?

We build our students’ skills so that they can make informed judgements about whether companies are greenwashing or making truly sustainable decisions. If you’re reading this and thinking that you may like to take IB ESS in the sixth form, then have a chat with Mrs Riches.