EngineeringUK is publishing a series of briefings drawing on research conducted with 800 STEM teachers from across the UK, to better understand how teachers access and deliver STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) engagement activities, such as after school clubs and out of class activities, and any barriers they face in doing that.
The first briefing in the series, ‘School Report: How teachers engage with STEM outreach’ found that although a high proportion of STEM teachers surveyed said they had engaged with STEM outreach in the last academic year, the majority – 90% - had faced barriers.
Funding (52%) and time (49%) were the main barriers, while just over a fifth (22%) said support staff resources were a barrier.
Some teachers also highlighted additional costs, including hiring a cover teacher or travel for out of school activities, as an issue.
Being unable to find suitable outreach was also a problem (18%) or organisations to work with (20%). Whilst time and funding are key, the research highlights issues around access also need to be addressed. EngineeringUK has highlighted the need for STEM outreach to be targeted to areas of need as well as for closer links between career hubs and engineering and technology employers.
The pressures of delivering the national curriculum were also cited as a barrier.
The research also found teachers are predominantly finding STEM activities online, directly from providers, and through their own professional networks. Despite this, barriers to engagement remain for the majority.
Recommendations for providers and funders:
- Reach teachers where they are – online through social media or through free websites like Neon
- Use teacher champions to support with your activity to promote to others in networks
- Support with bursaries to ensure schools with the tightest budgets aren't missing out
- Promote inclusion of underrepresented groups
EngineeringUK supports STEM outreach through EUK Education, including Big Bang, Energy Quest and Climate Schools Programme, Neon, bursaries and resources. EngineeringUK works with industry to help them reach more young people with targeted, high-quality outreach.
The next themes in the School Report series to be published in the next couple of months, explore practical work, teacher awareness of all routes into engineering and technology, and teacher recruitment and retention.
Engineering is not visible in the curriculum, so STEM outreach is an important avenue for young people to gain subject or career knowledge and improve young people’s knowledge and perceptions. We know outreach plays a vital role in sparking interest and passion – so we need industry to support teachers and students in STEM outreach.
Over 6m people work in engineering and technology and this is expected to grow faster than other sectors between now and 2030, but there is a huge skills and labour shortage. We need more engineering and technology employers to be reaching more teachers so more young people can engage with STEM outreach and understand the future opportunities available to them.
— Head of Research at EngineeringUK, Becca Gooch
