National Audit Office report on ‘Educating the next generation of scientists’

A National Audit Office report published on 12 November found that the Department for Education had made good progress in improving take-up and achievement in areas such as A-level maths and GCSE Triple Science. However, there has been less success in increasing the number of science teachers, improving take-up of A-Level physics and raising the standards of school science facilities.

The government drive towards increasing the number of students studying science and maths is driven by their belief that "A strong supply of people with science, technology, engineering and maths skills is important to promote innovation, exploit new technologies, produce world-class scientists and for the UK to compete internationally". This resulted in a government-commissioned review in 2002 which identified "concerns about the future supply of such STEM skills to the UK economy". Two years later, the ten-year Science and Innovation Investment Framework set out a strategy to "improve the UK’s standing as a centre of research, increase investment in research and development, and support a strong supply of scientists, engineers and technologists". A key aim was to "increase the skills of young people coming through the school system by improving the quality and quantity of science teachers, improving results for pupils studying maths and science, and increasing the numbers taking related subjects in post-16 and higher education".

The National Audit Office report has found good progress being made in achieving these aims – the full details of which can be found in the report, but the Department for Education also acknowledges that careers information and guidance in schools has been patchy, with only 18% of young people surveyed being satisfied with the STEM careers advice they have received. As a result, the Department is running a Careers awareness timeline pilot, which aims to establish a more coherent structure for young people to learn about careers in science, technology, engineering and maths. Thirty schools are developing and testing activities that link studying science and maths with the knowledge, skills and attitudes relevant to future careers. The pilot has been running from May 2008 and will end in March 2011 at a planned cost of £650,000 over the three years.

The report also recognised that the Department has made good progress by rationalising the wide variety and number of different initiatives into coherent pathways, but gaps and inconsistencies in availability and uptake remain, creating a "shortfall in value for money which the Department could and should address in developing its future programme for science and maths in schools".

Commenting on the report, a CBI spokesperson said:

“STEM skills are vital for UK business competitiveness, but they are in short supply. Over the next three years more than half of employers expect to have difficulties recruiting staff with these skills, which could hinder growth in critical areas like low-carbon manufacturing and creative industries.

“The National Curriculum Review launched today (Thursday 20th January 2011) needs to focus on improving the quality and take-up of STEM subjects which are in huge demand from employers, and will be essential for economic growth.”

The full report and executive summary are available to download from the National Audit Office website, or you can download a pdf of the report directly from the link on the left-hand side of this page.

If you are looking for STEM careers resources to assist you then why not visit the National STEM Centre eLibrary?