More strategic approach needed for promoting STEM careers, says EngineeringUK report
EngineeringUK is asking for a more strategic approach to careers provision in schools and colleges in England and for greater investment in the careers system and associated infrastructure in a report on STEM careers provision.
The report, ‘Advancing STEM careers provision in England: Key lessons and opportunities’, highlights what is said to be working well in careers education and what requires urgent attention.
Time constraints and funding are among the issues revealed in a survey of teachers and career leaders, one of who is quoted as saying:”We could do more if teachers had more time, and if it fitted with the curriculum. There’s a lot that falls between the gaps – for example, engineering – is it the responsibility of maths, science or DT? We used to have a STEM coordinator, which worked well, but the funding fell away.”
The report recommends a range of measures said to be crucial to ensuring that STEM careers provision is robust and inclusive, aligning with the government’s strategic approach to skilling the next generation. It is the third in a series exploring STEM careers provision in England, following the ‘Our careers, our future: STEM careers provision and young people’ in 2020 and ’Securing the future: careers provision in schools and colleges’ report in 2021.
The survey found that only 61% of respondents said students of work experience age at their school take part in STEM work experience each year. Over a third (36%) who highlighted funding as a barrier to delivering STEM careers provision said the lack of funding means that they are unable to support STEM work experience in their school.
Insufficient funding was said to prevent 37% of respondents from engaging more with STEM employers, while 33% cited a lack of capacity within schools to engaging more with STEM employers, and 43% wanted more practical help in finding good quality STEM work experience for students. 25% said Careers Leaders in their school are being allocated less than one day a week to fulfil their roles.
The report recommends that the government:
- Publishes a new long-term careers strategy for England with sufficient funding attached to enable schools and colleges to bring it to life.
- Embeds careers into the subject content of the STEM curriculum and ensures that it highlights the diverse range of roles and people working in science, technology and engineering.
- Ensures that careers advisers have the continuous professional development (CPD) necessary to have, and be able to convey, up-to-date knowledge of modern engineering and technology careers.
- Develops a work experience strategy that links into and sits alongside a wider careers strategy.
- Adopts an inclusive whole-school approach to careers provision led and guided by the careers leader.
- Adopts a targeted approach to STEM careers provision.
- Draws on support from their local Careers Hub to more consistently link their careers programmes with local and national labour market information and the connection with future career opportunities
STEM employers are asked to Continue to build out their engagement activities aimed at young people in KS3 alongside an improved offer of work experience opportunities. Career hubs should focus on recruiting more local STEM employers to complete the Employer Standards and get actively involved in programmes such as Equalex and Teacher Encounters.
EngineeringUK Chief Executive, Dr Hilary Leevers, said:“Our report arrives at a pivotal moment when the demand for STEM skills is growing, and the new government is developing its approach to meet these needs. It offers insights and recommendations to enhance STEM careers provision in schools and colleges in England and provide students with a solid understanding of STEM careers.
“The government must take a more strategic approach to STEM education and skills. This includes greater investment in the careers system to realise the full potential of the billions of pounds invested in education and training. Young people need to be able to make the connection between their studies and their future careers.”
