'Driving Success through STEM' conference - Yorkshire & the Humber
Regional STEM event - Yorkshire & the Humber
25 November, 2010 in partnership with National Grid
Senior leaders from schools and colleges across Yorkshire & the Humber braved snow and ice to participate in this event, where presentations and workshops facilitated by local speakers stimulated discussion throughout the afternoon. This page provides the presentations, together with a summary of participants' feedback on priorities from their school or college regarding STEM, and the key messages they were taking away from the event.
Available presentations may be downloaded from the bottom of this page.
Presentations and workshops
Introduction: STEM education landscape Jenifer Burden, Director, National STEM Centre
Head to Head: views of senior leaders Chris Hoyle, Headteacher, Ridgewood School Jane Taylor, Deputy Principal, Leeds City College
An employer's view Richard Earp, Education and Skills Manager, National Grid
Impact of professional development John Wardle, Co-director, Science Learning Centre Yorkshire & the Humber; Tim Stirrup, Director for Communications, NCETM
STEM Careers: the Timeline project Peter Stagg, Regional Director, Centre for Education and Industry, University of Warwick
What are participants' priorities for STEM?
STEM needs to be higher up our agenda, with designated staff taking responsibility across the school, embracing the STEM agenda in its broadest sense
Ensuring key departments work together in a collaborative way to drive STEM with a clear link to careers IAG; departmental collaboration to develop engagement in maths and science
To produce a plan starting from where we are teaching, to cross-curricular work that emphasises the links from STEM subjects to the wider school agenda and beyond
What key messages from the event do participants view as most important?
The inspirational agenda that a STEM ethos can provide, and the importance of driving STEM
The foundation of STEM in strong subject specialism, and then reaching out across departments (and beyond)
Importance of provision of STEM careers IAG - the broad opportunities opened up by STEM study
The efforts that have been made to promote STEM nationally; it was good to hear how exemplifying the breadth of STEM can help learners achieve goals towards potential employment
Strategies for reaching employers, for example, through STEM Ambassadors
How can schools and colleges best inform students about STEM-related careers and progression routes?
Make available more information about the breadth of educational pathways available to STEM careers
Use a range of methods, including formal careers IAG, links within lessons, and activity outside of lessons, such as STEM Clubs, and a Careers Fair with 'real' engineers who can tell their personal story