'Driving Success through STEM' conference - London

Regional STEM event - London

10 June 2010, in partnership with BP plc

Senior leaders from schools and colleges in London participated 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

  • Welcome and introduction
    Professor Sir John Holman, Director, National STEM Programme
    Jenifer Burden, Director, National STEM Centre
  • Employer's viewpoint
    Ian Duffy, Business Adviser, UK Social and Community Affairs, BP
  • STEM interventions - finding out what works
    Peter Stagg, Centre for Education & Industry, University of Warwick
    Kandarp Thakkar, STEM Ambassador and Lead Pharmacist, Hammersmith Hospital
  • Head to head - our experience of a STEM focus
    Frank McLoughlin, Principal, City and Islington College
    Gordon Smith, Headteacher, Riddlesdown High School

What are participants' priorities for STEM?

  • Cross-curricular STEM and a focus on STEM careers using industry role models
  • Increase role model engagement with schools, know your local STEM support services, continued cohesion with STEM partners
  • Clearer focus on an action plan and the direct benefits to teachers and students
  • Create a leadership post to bring the four aspects of STEM together and arrange joint project work to channel more through STEM
  • More collaboration with other institutions, particularly in the delivery of the KS3 curriculum
  • Increasing enrichment activities, and using these to encourage cross-departmental collaboration

What key messages from the event do participants view as most important?

  • The importance of good teaching, and the relevant role of CPD in this, to encourage teachers' confidence and knowledge
  • STEM career information needs to be given out 'early and often'
  • Tackling pupils' perception of STEM subjects as 'too difficult' and encouraging take-up and progression in these subjects
  • Publicising STEM career pathways using real people not leaflets
  • The important role of collaboration between STEM teachers within school
  • The need to take a wider view of planning the curriculum and to engage with a wider cross-section of students

How can schools and colleges best inform students about STEM-related careers and progression routes?

  • Teachers need to become more knowledgeable about STEM career paths
  • Use industry role models such as STEM Ambassadors
  • Encourage teacher development in collaboration with industry
  • Through cross-curricular activities such as STEM Fairs and workshops / presentations in Assemblies
  • Develop resources to enable teachers to deliver informative IAG
  • Through cross-curricular project work which engages students to find out about and report back on careers and other issues