via Online Learning and an Activity Box
The Sustainability and Green Skills AQA Unit Award Programme is designed for young people aged 7–18, who are passionate about the planet, wildlife and building skills for their future.
This unique programme combines online learning with hands-on projects delivered through our practical Activity Box. Over 5 short AQA-accredited units, learners will explore the environment, conservation, climate change, and green innovation while gaining real skills to prepare them for future study, work, and life in a low-carbon world.
Starts on 16th February 2026
From building a solar-powered car and joining our team virtually on a marine conservation project in Mexico, to experimenting with bioplastics and upc-ycling waste, learners will take part in engaging activities that bring sustainability to life. They’ll develop in-demand STEM skills and confidence, preparing for the green jobs of the future.
An AQA Unit Award is a Certificate of Achievement from one of the UK’s biggest examination boards.
To gain an AQA Unit Award, learners complete a short portfolio of evidence and receive a certificate to recognise their achievement. The scheme helps to boost confidence, increase engagement, and motivate students, supporting them to make progress, build their CV, and prepare for future qualifications.
For more information
The Sustainability and Green Skills AQA Unit Award Programme is designed to offer young people a flexible, engaging learning experience that fits around home education or school timetables.
Learners access 20 weeks of short, self-paced videos, studying 1–2 hours per week at a time that suits them. Optional live sessions provide extra help and a chance to share progress, with recordings available if needed. Each learner receives a practical Activity Box with equipment for assessment projects.
At the end of the programme, learners will have completed 5 AQA Unit Awards and will be invited to a virtual graduation ceremony to celebrate their achievements.
This programme is designed to introduce key green skills concepts that are in growing demand for the future, giving learners practical experiences that bring each topic to life.
Across the five AQA Unit Awards, they will study:
Climate Change Awareness – Understand the science behind climate change and its effects on people and nature.
Practical project: Run a simple greenhouse effect experiment.
Understanding the Circular Economy – Explore how reusing and recycling reduce waste and protect the environment.
Practical project: Create an upcycled product from everyday materials.
Wildlife and Marine Conservation – Discover how conservationists protect endangered species and habitats.
Practical project: Complete a field report after watching our marine conservation case study in Mexico.
Introduction to Renewable Energy and STEM Skills – Learn what renewable energy is and why it matters for the planet’s future.
Practical project: Build and test a solar-powered car.
Environmental Action and Youth Leadership – Learn how small actions and youth campaigns can make a big difference. Practical project: Design a mini environmental campaign and make your own bioplastics.
The Sustainability and Green Skills AQA Unit Award Programme is available at two levels:
Level 1 – roughly equivalent to GCSE grades 1–3
Level 2 – roughly equivalent to GCSE grades 4–9
Because our programmes are practical, flexible, and highly accessible, many young people are able to achieve at a level they might not reach in a traditional classroom setting. The knowledge and activities are designed to reflect each level, but the hands-on approach and supportive structure mean learners can often stretch themselves further than they expect.
For learners who may need pre-Level 1 support, our partners, The Therapy Adventure offers the Nature, Wildlife and Wellbeing AQA Unit Award Programme at Entry Level, providing a gentle introduction with the same practical, accessible approach.
The Sustainability and Green skills AQA Unit Award programme is designed to be accessible for young people with a wide range of needs. Most of the learning is built around practical projects to increase engagement and reduce barriers to success.
At Level 1, there are very written expectations. Learners might complete some simple worksheets, label diagrams, or write one-sentence answers, but much of the evidence comes from hands-on activities and photographs of their work. There are alternative methods of completing all tasks for those with barriers to writing.
At Level 2, there is a little more reflection required to show understanding, but this can be completed in the way that suits the learner best. Some may prefer to write a short paragraph, while others might record a brief video or audio presentation instead. This flexibility means learners can demonstrate their knowledge and skills without being limited by traditional written assessments.
Our goal isn’t just to introduce knowledge about sustainability - it’s to engage young people so they feel inspired to take action for a more sustainable world. Our Activity Boxes are at the heart of this approach, turning learning into practical, hands-on experiences that help students problem-solve, find solutions, and think creatively rather than just memorising information.
Each box provides materials for the practical projects, such as a solar-powered car kit, field trip report sheets, upcycling materials, key bioplastics ingredients, and a greenhouse effect experiment kit. It’s this practical, project-based approach that reduces barriers to learning, makes assessments more meaningful, and brings sustainability to life in a way that is exciting and accessible for all learners.
The green economy has been the second-best performing sector of the decade, behind only technology. Green jobs have grown nearly four times faster than overall UK employment, yet the supply of workers with green skills has fallen behind, creating a widening skills gap. Globally, green talent must double by 2050 to meet demand.
This isn’t only about careers in the environmental sector. Research shows that job seekers with green skills are 54.6% more likely to be hired than the general workforce. Just as technology skills are now essential across all careers, green skills are rapidly becoming a core requirement for the future workforce in every industry.
Our programme helps by introducing key elements of green skills and sustainability through hands-on projects that spark curiosity and build both STEM and environmental knowledge. Learners gain five AQA Unit Awards from one of the UK’s biggest exam boards, giving them recognised evidence of their success while preparing them for the jobs and challenges of the future.
The Sustainability and Green Skills AQA Unit Award Programme has been created using content and principles drawn from WWF’s Climate Change Curriculum and shaped by our own team of sustainability and conservation specialists. The programme also aligns with key UN Sustainable Development Goals, helping young people understand how local actions connect to global challenges.
Designed to Be Inclusive
The Sustainability and Green Skills AQA Unit Award Programme is led by a multidisciplinary therapy team and has been carefully designed to be accessible and child-led, with mental health and wellbeing at its heart. It is suitable for young people with a wide range of needs, including those who are neurodivergent or have SEND or mental health challenges.
Assessments are flexible and can be completed in different ways, from simple worksheets and practical projects to short video or audio recordings, so learners can show their understanding in a format that works best for them. There are no strict deadlines or unnecessary pressure. Instead, we engage young people through interesting, creative projects that build confidence, spark curiosity, and put wellbeing before rigid timetables.
By the end of the programme, learners will:
Complete 5 AQA Unit Awards
Build key STEM and green skills in demand for the future workforce.
Gain recognised evidence of achievement and take part in a virtual graduation ceremony.
For more information