Chris Green – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Green on 2015-10-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to promote STEM subjects and STEM career opportunities in schools.

Nick Gibb

The government has taken action by introducing a more engaging and knowledge rich curriculum, and by improving the quality of STEM teaching though a number of measures such as offering incentives to attract top graduates into teaching. We are also funding high quality professional development opportunities for STEM teachers including industrial placements.

The statutory guidance underpinning a school’s duty to secure independent careers guidance is clear about the importance of STEM subjects. It states that schools should ensure that, as early as possible, pupils understand that a wide range of career choices require good knowledge of maths and the sciences.

The Careers & Enterprise Company will strengthen links between employers, schools and colleges and careers and enterprise organisations. The “Your Life” campaign, launched by the government last year, aims to change the perceptions of science and mathematics among all young people.