Remove chick hatching from the curriculum – Take action!

The Notes and guidance in the Living things and their habitats section of the Year 5 National Curriculum science programme of study suggests that: “They (pupils) might observe changes in an animal over a period of time (for example, by hatching and rearing chicks) . . .”.

We are calling on the Department for Education to remove this sentence from the guidance and to consider more ethical and relevant options such as nest webcams.

Take action:

• Email Gillian Keegan MP, Secretary of State for Education requesting that the reference to hatching and rearing chicks be removed from the Year 5 National Curriculum science programme of study Notes and guidance.
• View and download the sample letter that you can use to write your letter or email.
• Hear from a vet nurse about a school chick rescue.
• Listen to Neil Winn-Williams talking about how hatching projects have affected the Foal Farm Animal Rescue Centre.
• Download our What’s wrong with hatching projects? factsheet.
• Find out more about hatching projects here.