Ignite your post-16 students' passion for sustainability and give them the skills to create a better future!

Sustainability and climate change are very important to think about for the future. It's also important to help young people deal with eco-anxiety and show them positive ways to handle these big challenges. The current curriculum might not be green enough now, but we can help make it greener in a way that's easy to manage.

We've created a new Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability for students aged 16 to develop applied subject knowledge and transferable skills.  It focuses on the basics of sustainability and areas that students know about like consumer and business topics. Imagine your students confidently studying real-world organisations and making solid suggestions for a greener future.

Content covered by the qualification includes:

  • climate education,
  • sustainable practices,
  • linear vs circular economies
  • greenwashing.

Supported by industry and higher education

This qualification is supported and recognised by a range of stakeholders including World Wide Fund (WWF), Ellen Macarthur Foundation, Liverpool City Regional Combined Authority plus Siemens and          Jaguar Land Rover. 

Higher education institutes also support the Level 3 qualification, including Russell Group universities

Prepare them for the future – explore our L3 Certificate in Sustainability today!

Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability

Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability

Download the specification and Sample Assessment Materials (SAMs) below

Interested in teaching this qualification?

Who should take it:

  • Students aged 16 and over on a full-time post-16 study programme who want to develop applied knowledge and skills in sustainability.
  • Students who want to learn specialist subject knowledge and transferable skills that complement their Level 3 post-16 study programme in a similar way to an EPQ.
  • Students looking to progress into employment in the environmental conservation sector or higher education programmes related to the environmental conservation sector (e.g BSc (Hons) Climate, Sustainability and Environmental Management) or degree programmes where sustainability modules are becoming increasingly more common. 

Assessment:

  • Our Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability is 150 guided learning hours (GLH)
  • It has 2 mandatory units:
    • Fundamentals of sustainability - examined (75 GLH)
    • Sustainability in practice - non-examined assessment (75 GLH)
  • The qualification is graded P/M/D/D* and each unit is graded P/M/D.

Supports the change agenda for sustainability

Input from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) leading universities and other stakeholders ensures the content of this qualification allows students to explore the fundamental aspects of sustainability. Students are encouraged to see positive ways of mitigating some of the pressing sustainability challenges faced by governments, organisations and individuals.

Fair compensation

Students are always rewarded for their demonstrated abilities, removing penalties or hurdles so every mark counts towards a student’s final grade. Features teachers love and more: This qualification incorporates the popular features from our Cambridge Technicals, including visiting moderation and a blend of examination and a coursework unit.

Pathways to employment and university

Designed in collaboration with teachers, universities and other stakeholders, the qualification equips students with a knowledge of sustainability that supports progression to employment or university.

Complementary practical application

Designed to be taken as part of a Level 3 study programme, with a strong focus on the practical application of skills and knowledge.

We're hosting three webinars where we'll dive into the exciting details of our new enrichment qualification.  Don't miss the chance to hear more. 

Webinar Introducing Level 3 Sustainability  20 March 2025
Webinar Introducing Level 3 Sustainability  25 March 2025
Webinar Introducing Level 3 Sustainability  27 March 2025

Professional Development

Our range of courses are designed to support you from day one and throughout your teaching journey.

We're developing a programme of courses ahead of first teach. When available these will be:

  • Starting to Teach
  • Ask the Subject Advisor
  • Ask the Moderator
  • Preparing for the Exam NEA
Sign up for email updates to stay tuned for these upcoming courses.

Resources

We'll provide comprehensive support to empower you in delivering this exciting new qualification.

We’re currently creating our planning and teaching resources ahead of first teach. Once ready, you'll find:

  • Schemes of work
  • Activities and guides
  • Blog posts

Full planning and teaching materials will be made available on Teach Cambridge, our secure website for teachers.