Review of Vocational Education - the Wolf Report
This report, by Dr Alison Wolf and published in March 2011, was commissioned to investigate the state of vocational education for young people aged 14 to 19. It was found that many courses offered very little value, offering no route to further education or prospects for meaningful employment. Many prospective students cannot…
STEM Careers Awareness Guides
These STEM Careers Awareness Guides were designed to provide STEM teachers and careers advisers with an overview of the 'See where they can take you' campaign. This aimed to improve the quality of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers guidance for students, to help them make informed post-16 subject…
Guide to Examples of Good Quality STEM Placements
Produced for the Department for Education, this resource from Sheffield Hallam University, is designed to help employers, teachers, students and anyone involved in work experience develop strategies for creating good quality placements for young people aged 14–19. This guide contains examples of good practice which are…
STEM and Economic Wellbeing
These tools have been produced for the Department for Education by the Centre for Science Education. The materials are for STEM and economic wellbeing (EWB) curriculum leaders, teachers and support staff working together to meet the needs of their learners. They will also be useful for STEM and EWB advisers, consultants and trainers…
Kate Bellingham Video
In this video, Kate Bellingham, the former National STEM Careers Coordinator, describes the importance of encouraging students to choose STEM subjects. Kate believes that STEM qualifications and skills are urgently needed and highly valued in employment therefore it is crucial to work with teachers, careers advisers, school leaders,…
4/5- Publication year: 2010 to date
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STEM Choices: Equality and Diversity - Ethnicity
This publication from the Department for Education addresses the issue of equality and diversity in the STEM workforce which is not yet truly representative. It examines the number of ethnic minority students studying STEM subjects and undertaking STEM-related careers. The publication looks at approaches such as role models, science…
STEM Choices: Equality and Diversity - Gender
This publication from the Department for Education publication explores the issue of a significant gender imbalance in the STEM workforce, barriers to choosing STEM subjects and gender disparity. A list of suggestions to make STEM careers advice more women - friendly is also provided.
Embedding STEM Careers Awareness in Secondary Schools
This publication, from Warwick University, reports on the STEM Careers Awareness Timeline Pilot. The Timeline project seeks to establish how schools can embed a more systematic programme of careers awareness into the existing subject curriculum. The report gives emerging findings from working with stakeholders and schools.
STEM Baseline Survey - Summary Report
From the Department for Education, this report provides a summary of findings from the STEM Baseline Survey Research Programme. It reports on a programme of activities aimed at improving STEM careers awareness in secondary schools. The primary purpose of the research dimension of the project is to measure the potential impact…
Work Related Learning Guide
Produced by the former Department for Children, Schools and Families, this work-related learning guide is aimed at young people and their parents or carers, employers, primary and secondary schools and colleges, and Education Business Partnership Organisations. The guide includes information on providing work-related learning and…
STEM Choices: Equality and Diversity Strand Chart
Produced for the Department for Education, this document outlines four levels of school engagement with STEM careers as a basis for planning the development and implementation of the STEM Subject Choice and Careers project.
How to Design an Inclusive Industrial Visit
Produced by the Industrial Trust, Business & Education South Yorkshire and JIVE (Joint Interventions), this leaflet identifies hints and tips to help organisers of visits to industry. Often organisations that are prepared to offer industrial visits to their sites are unaware of the action they can take to make the experience…
STEM Equality and Diversity Useful Websites
Produced for the Department for Education, this document contains an extensive list of web sites that will be useful to practitioners offering information and guidance in STEM careers to young people.
Work Experience
In this Teachers TV video, two consortia in Birmingham prepare to pilot the Secondary Diplomas in Engineering and Creative and Media. The diplomas were designed with industry support, and aim to equip young people with the skills employers need, and the ability to go on learning throughout their lives. To achieve this consortia…
Quick Guide for STEM Work Experience Placements
This guide from the Department for Education is designed to help teachers, learners, employers and anyone involved in work experience develop strategies for creating good quality placements for young people aged 14–19. The Quick Guide for STEM Work Experience Placements has a question and answer format to assist users in…
Guidance Notes for Organisations Delivering STEM Ambassador Training
These guidance notes and associated Training Packfrom the Department for Education, are designed for organisations to help STEM Ambassadors enhance their skills and enable them to become even more active in their local schools and communities. After completing the training, this new bank of STEM Careers Ambassadors will not only…
Briefing Pack for STEM Careers Ambassadors
This training pack from the Department for Education is designed to help STEM professionals enhance their skills and enable them to become even more active in schools and communities. The emphasis within the training pack on challenging myths and stereotypes will also support STEM Ambassadors in encouraging the broadest spectrum…
STEM Choices: Summary of Good Practice
From the Department for Education, this resource is an accessible summary of good practice when delivering careers information and guidance. It will be useful for tutors, subject teachers, and careers advisers involved in STEM and other subject areas.
STEM Choices: National Standards for IAG
This document from the Department for Education refers to the provision of information, advice and guidance (IAG) for young people. IAG covers a range of activities and interventions that help young people to become more self-reliant and better able to manage their personal and career development, including learning. The standards…
Science
This Teachers TV video illustrates a range of techniques to help students think about careers in STEM professions. Using a context of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), the school nurse talks to a Year Eight class about her work before students consider the various professionals involved in IVF. The students perform a role play which…
Careers
This series of videos from Teachers TV looks at the kind of skills needed to work in STEM professions, examines the careers available and includes advice from research scientists, engineers and project managers. • Science A science teacher uses a range of techniques to help her students think about careers in STEM professions.…
STEM Choices: Personal Capabilities
These documents from the Department for Education provide tools to support the development of young students' knowledge and understanding of their personal skills and capabilities. • Personal Capabilities Framework This chart presents three domains for personal capability - thinking, self-belief and collaboration. Each…
Top Trumps
This resource from the Department for Education is a set of 'Top Trumps' cards, which help students reflect on the skills and personality traits of individuals in particular careers. The cards could be used as a starter activity before students reflect on their own attributes and interests.
20 Top Tips for a Successful STEM Careers Day
This resource from the Department for Education provides some useful tips on how to organise a successful STEM careers day: from contacting your local STEM broker and organising exciting activities to involving sixth formers and STEM local employers.
Explore the Possibilities
This publication from the Department for Education lists ten tips on how to help young students make informed decisions about STEM courses and careers. A list of useful websites including information on STEM initiatives and careers is also provided.
STEM Choices: a Resource Pack
This pack from the Department for Education was developed for careers education and information, advice and guidance (IAG) practitioners to support their work in engaging tutors, subject teachers, personal and careers advisers in the business of STEM careers awareness. The resources are designed to boost the confidence and readiness…
Carbon Footprints
In this activity from the Department for Education students work with statistical information to communicate key ideas connected to reducing climate change. Students look at the carbon footprint of the average UK citizen, consider how different spheres of activity contribute to this footprint and examine ways this might be reduced.…
Think BIG
This Science upd8 activity illustrates practical applications of classroom science in the context of using sustainable building materials, and highlights several related various career routes. Students become members of a consultancy firm which specialises in sustainable building projects. They have to use their knowledge of…
In the Limelight
This Science upd8 activity engages students in the practical applications of colour mixing used in stage set design. In the scenario students act as the expert making recommendations to an international awards show, the ‘The International Music Awards.’ This resource is based on the work of the British design agency,…
One of Our Scientists Is Missing
This Science upd8 activity offers an opportunity to test students' understanding of the solar system, and their skills as independent enquirers, problem solvers and effective communicators. Students are part of an earth-bound team set the task of interpreting a range of data relating to the solar system/universe. This team includes…
Polar Bears in Trouble
In this Science upd8 activity students take on the role of a trainee documentary producer working for an environmental channel. The television programme scenario, ‘Bears in Trouble’, explores how rising temperatures in the Arctic could be endangering the survival of polar bears. Polar bears seem perfectly adapted to the…
Death of an Angel
In this Science upd8 activity students take on the role of forensic science technicians who are acting as expert witnesses for the murder of Angel. Students analyse blood splatter patterns to check whether the murder weapon used was a hammer. They also watch a demonstration of a blood viscosity test to check whether the time of death…