UK schools employ Accelerated Christian Education textbooks that reject the notion of human-induced climate change.

One of the world’s largest fundamentalist catechism groups has come to teach its students to deny climate change as a fact, and still presents evolution as a “ridiculous and discredited” conspiracy theory, according to a report from University College London (UCL) researchers.

Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) is one of the world’s largest providers of moral education materials, consisting of reading and core curriculum programmes, to thousands of affiliated schools worldwide, including dozens across the UK and Europe.

There are currently 11 schools in England and Northern Ireland officially affiliated with ACE, although experts expect there will be more because the schools are notoriously insular and conservative and do not advertise themselves as widely.

In the report published in Cultural studies for science educationThe researchers found that the latest version, which has been released for annual batches of Milestones 1 to 3 gradually over the past few years, now claims to show “evidence” that human-caused climate change is not real, and still presents evolution as a conspiracy theory. . This is despite claims by curriculum developers that its materials allow students to make their own decisions about development.

Adding the denial of climate change as a proof point for creationism follows previous editions that claimed a “vapor canopy” surrounding the Earth until it exploded, causing the Noah’s Flood. Although the latest edition does not include this and the claim has been largely dropped by the group, the space within the material previously given to the theory now covers climate change, specifically to deny a human link between rising temperatures and to reassure students of God’s plan in preparing A new sky and a better climate.

The lead author, Dr. Science Agenda: Students who attend ACE schools or use ACE materials transitioning into basic or higher education are not equipped to study advanced science or make informed judgments about scientific discoveries.

Presenting creation and evolution in this way is a conspiracy theory, with providers and educators arguing that mainstream scientists are colluding to promote false ideas. Teaching children in this way means they are more likely to accept and believe other conspiracy theories easily.

The authors found by analyzing the 3rd and 4th editions of the material that younger elementary/primary school children are not exposed to any thoughts that contradict ACE’s literal interpretation of the Bible until Year 9, or eighth grade in the US, at around age 13. The researchers say this is contrary to Ofsted’s educational guidance, which states that primary school children should undergo a broad and balanced science education.

The fourth edition of ACE was first released for the youngest age groups, five to six years old, in 2009, with progressively subsequent grades. The material for 12- to 14-year-olds was released in 2016 and 2020, respectively.

Overall, the only substantial difference between the third and fourth editions were two new arguments, both of which have been widely discredited by scholars. One is to claim trace amounts of polonium found in granite rocks as evidence that the Earth formed immediately, while the other is that traces of blood vessels and soft tissues found in some dinosaur fossils prove that they died relatively recently, indicating that the Earth is a young planet.

ACE has previously been criticized for relying on rote over other learning styles and for providing misleading or distorted information. The curriculum offered at ACE schools regularly includes creation within unscientific lessons and portrays those who believe in evolution as making an immoral choice.

The material has also previously been criticized for supporting white supremacy and defending apartheid in South Africa. In its first 20 years, ACE has been involved in more than 150 lawsuits, most of them related to accreditation, with subsequent court cases. The company believes that Christian schools should not be regulated, and schools that use its curriculum have defended that belief through litigation.

Dr Scaramanga added: “Questions must be asked of how these schools and those that rely heavily on ACE publications pass Ofsted exams when their curricula and materials clearly fail to provide a broad and balanced scholarly education and fail to require teaching to respect different beliefs.”