STEM Learning
Who we are
STEM Learning is committed to improving lives through STEM education. Grounded in evidence and learning from experience, we are passionate about creating a better future.
Our organisation values exemplify our approach:
- Make a difference: We are working to improve lives, now and in the future.
- Value partnership: We take a collaborative and supportive approach to achieving our vision.
- Integrity and inclusivity: We make ethical decisions, value and include difference, and breakdown stereotypes.
- Challenge with confidence: We provide and welcome constructive challenge to create positive change.
- Trusted Voice: We are a trusted voice, using research and evidence to continuously learn and develop.
What we do
STEM Learning is the UK’s largest provider of education support for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and our mission is to raise young people’s engagement and achievement in STEM subjects and careers.
We support the school trust sector through:
- Teacher professional development – High-impact, subject-specific CPD and resources for teachers of STEM subjects at all stages in their career. Helping develop great teachers, supporting them to reduce their workload and making it more likely they will stay in the profession, particularly those new to teaching.
- Supporting a broad curriculum – using STEM Ambassadors, STEM Clubs and enrichment opportunities to raise the aspirations of young people.
- Strengthening school partnerships – our ENTHUSE Partnerships deliver a coherent, structured package of CPD, STEM Ambassadors, STEM Clubs and enrichment for groups of schools; supporting school partnerships to achieve common outcomes across STEM subjects.
STEM Learning operates a network of school-based Science Learning Partnerships who provide local, curriculum hubs for science, this is complemented by the National STEM Learning Centre offering intensive professional development.
STEM Learning also leads the National Centre for Computing Education and a network of school-based Computing Hubs – together we are working to create a world-leading computing education for every child in England.
We are supported by a partnership of Government, charitable trusts and employers to ensure that all support is subsided or free to those schools that need it the most.
How we help
STEM Learning believes that supporting teachers improves the lives of young people.
We evaluate the impact of our support on teachers, support staff, technicians, and most importantly on young people.
The self-reported evidence from participants, internal and externally commissioned evaluations and student achievement data provide a robust, quality assured process.
Our impact evidence enables us to prove that our professional development has a direct impact on participants, the wider school or college, and ultimately young people.
Over 80% of teachers who work with us improve the quality of their STEM teaching
‘Planning for impact’ is embedded through all STEM Learning CPD. Teacher feedback triangulated with school and pupil data provides a continuous improvement cycle.
- 94% of teachers report STEM Learning CPD has made a high or medium impact on their knowledge and practice
- 83% of teachers and 100% of school leaders of ENTHUSE Partnerships report improvements in the quality of STEM teaching
Science teachers are 160% more likely to stay in teaching after participating in our CPD
Concerns around recruitment and retention of STEM teachers are well documented. Teachers develop their effectiveness over time, so retention is vital in a climate where over half of STEM teachers leave the profession within five years. Independent evaluation shows that:
- 1 in 12 teachers who did not participate in STEM Learning CPD left teaching in the following year. This reduces to 1 in 30 for those who engaged, increasing the odds of retention by 160%
"As an early ‘graduate’ of STEM Learning’s New and Aspiring Heads of Science course, I have been inspired to remain in teaching, have progressed to senior leadership and now a role leading science across a major academy chain.”
Mat Galvin, Assistant Head and Regional Secondary Science Lead for AET
Disadvantaged students are even more likely to benefit from our support
The OECD report PISA - Against the Odds; Disadvantaged Students Who Succeed in School (2011) found that "Taking more science courses benefits disadvantaged students even more than it does their more advantaged peers. Therefore, exposing disadvantaged students to science learning at school might help close performance gaps.”
STEM Learning actively focusses on schools where young people can benefit most. We work with more schools rated requiring improvement or inadequate by Ofsted than those rated good or outstanding and provide targeted support to students experiencing the highest levels of social disadvantage.
Analysis shows ENTHUSE Partnerships help to narrow the attainment gap, with students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds showing enhanced progress and attainment above the national average.
More young people pursue STEM careers as a result of our support
STEM careers are woven through our CPD and STEM Ambassadors from 7,000 employers lift the lid on careers, bringing real world experience into the classroom.
- STEM Ambassadors increase young people's awareness of the importance of STEM by 89%
- More than 7 in 10 teachers leading STEM Clubs say they have improved their awareness of STEM careers
You can read more about STEM Learning’s impact and evaluation on our website:
https://www.stem.org.uk/about-us/impact-and-evaluation
