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Developing critical thinking skills and taking practical action
The Secondary approach to the Morecambe Bay Curriculum focuses on deepening knowledge and developing critical thinking, through engagement with complex and challenging issues. Topics are relevant, reliable and relatable, for example; energy poverty, mental health, coastal protection and decolonisation.
Identifying solutions to issues and taking practical action where possible, are key to ensuring students remain hopeful and engaged.
Aligning with the National Curriculum with a focus on preparation for GCSE and broadening aspirations, Lancaster University researchers have been working alongside secondary teachers to develop educational resources. Together they have developed resources that link to cutting-edge research on KS3 subjects including; Geography, PSHE, D&T, History and Science.
Explore the resources below, designed to be adaptable to different settings around the Bay:
Developed by: Becky Shanley, Dallam School and Dr Suzi Ilic, LU
By applying project design processes students will be encouraged to creatively find sustainable solutions to the threats facing salt marshes. Using new knowledge of nature-based solutions and the threats to their local coastlines students engineer suitable structures to support restoration and protect their communities. Embedding their knowledge of the Our Future Coast work through real life application!
Nature-Based Solutions for our Coasts Overview
Nature-Based Solutions for our Coasts Resources - Free Dropbox Download
Developed by: Richard Spencer, Bowland High School and Dr Paul Cureton, LU
Through an interactive table-top gaming experience, pupils will develop an understanding of local coastal communities and the pressures they are under. Employing critical-thinking and decision-making they will focus on the choices that councils, local government and national government are faced with and an understanding that making these decisions will impact them now and in the future.
Developed by: Kyla Bennett, Kirkbie Kendal School and Dr Becky Whittle, LU
The Morecambe Bay Tidal Barrage is described as a ‘vital step in getting us closer to a greener, safer, fairer future’ but is it the best solution for our community?
Your learners will be challenged to synthesise research on two pathways – the tidal barrage proposal and retro-fitting energy saving solutions. The resource challenges common assumptions through the lens of fairness and equity.
Energy Generation or Energy Conservation Overview
Energy Generation or Energy Conservation - Free Dropbox Download
Developed by: Kate Potter, Ripley St Thomas C of E Academy and Dr Celine Germond-Duret, LU
Spending time outdoors and near water can help with enhancing wellbeing and resilience. This foundational PSHE series explores the research behind blue spaces ensuring that your learners are in a better position to understand more fully the positive impacts which nature can have on their lives.
Developed by: Dr Emily Fitzherbert and Dr Hattie Roberts
Teachers can empower students by informing them of their local environmental heritage and bridging the plant awareness gap. This resource helps us notice the plant life around us, expanding ecological knowledge in our learners. It also brings careers in botany, ecology, and environmental management to the fore.
Developed by: Kate Vose, Queen Elizabeth School and Dr Phil Moffitt, LU
This resource offers a comparison between the Eurasian Curlew, Britain’s highest conservation priority bird species, and the Airbus A380-800, the world’s largest commercial airliner.
Explore biomimicry, the principles of flight and the sustainability of aircraft design, to understand how humans can create solutions that care for our planet.
Developed by: Jamie Roberts, LRGS and Professor Carlos Lopez-Galviz, LU
This resource will engage with the contemporary debates in the UK around reparations, loss and damage, repatriation of Indigenous artefacts and apologies for past imperial and colonial actions. By reflecting on the past, we can teach a generation to build meaningful bridges between communities and move forward to face the climate crisis together.
Colonialism and Empire: Sustainability and Development Overview
Colonialism and Empire: Sustainability and Development Resources - Free Dropbox Download
Throughout 2025 and 2026 the MBC Secondary Working Group have been exploring ways to engage pupils with the themes of place, sustainability and environment. This includes tackling fast fashion, digitally mapping school grounds and connecting to nature through art.
We were proud to celebrate these schools during a visit to Lancaster University, you can read more about our schools' learnings in the Secondary Collaborative Scrapbook.
