BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK SPARKS STEM REVOLUTION FOLLOWING GCSE RESULTS DECLINE
This British Science Week (8 March to 17 March 2024) a group of experts working across the education sector are calling for a STEM learning revolution – hoping to improve upon last year’s disappointing science GCSE results and highlight the exciting opportunities these subjects offer.
To understand more about the results being achieved by pupils sitting STEM subjects – Access Education analysed Ofqual data, finding that across England top grades fell by an average of 16% across all three science subjects, and 15% across all STEM subjects (including biology, chemistry, combined science, computer science, engineering, maths, physics and stats).
Across the UK, close to 10% less students achieved a pass (4 or above) in these STEM subjects, in 2023.
Partially due to grading standards returning to pre-pandemic levels, teachers, governing bodies and industry experts are keen to shake up current STEM teaching practices, and invest in building a solid foundation for GCSE success and beyond.
Speaking about the importance of STEM subjects, Michael Whitehead, Assistant Department Head at The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College said:
“It’s so important for young people to engage with STEM subjects but, too often, students can struggle to see the value or how the topics they learn about in class will be relevant to their future career paths.
“Current estimates indicate that up to 80% of jobs in the future will require skills that are found within STEM education, so we wanted to ensure our students had the best possible chance of success – both in building their knowledge and when sitting their exams.
“The STEM impact program currently being offered by Access Education has helped improve engagement, with our students watching nearly 1000 videos helping them to grow their knowledge across chemistry, biology, statistics and maths – from the periodic table to plant nutrition.
“Having accessible resources which children like to interact with can make all the difference to facilitating independent learning outside the classroom, providing a way forward amid falling results nationwide.”
Following a string of headlines about gaps in students’ STEM education – with research finding around 115,000 more girls would need to take A-levels in maths or physics, or both, to reach equal numbers of male and female students studying engineering and technology degrees – Access Education is offering a year’s worth of free content as part of its STEM Impact Program.
Offering exclusive access to content across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines, schools that sign-up to the initiative will be guided through a nine-week impact program, expertly crafted with both student and teacher webinars. At the end of the course, schools will be given a personalised report to help share in depth classroom insight and maximise pupil attainment. Teachers will also gain access to the full platform.
Speaking about the initiative, Emma Slater, head of education at Access Education GCSEPod said:
“STEM subjects present some of the most dynamic topics for students – and while there will be thousands of pupils with the innate skills called upon for scientific, engineering or mathematical success, there will be as many who struggle to engage or find certain aspects of the curriculum more challenging.
“In a busy classroom environment, juggling a range of individual capabilities can be a real challenge for teachers, so we wanted to create a platform to help schools deliver personalised STEM learning – designed with all students in mind.
“From helping the high achievers stretch their knowledge and understanding, to supporting even the most reluctant learners to get to grips with complex science and maths topic – content such as bitesize revision videos authored by subject experts, and assessments for students to test their knowledge – can boost a pupils’ confidence and drive attainment.
“By building firm foundations, schools can provide their students with all the necessary tools for building success, and achieving their best possible results, now and in the future.”
Extending out to a total of 30 GCSE/ IGCSE subjects, users of the GCSEPod learning and revision tools are proven to achieve one grade higher, on average, than non-users. The GCSEPod content and assessments are accessible both in the classroom and at home, providing learners more flexibility and freedom when it comes to managing their progress and revision.
To find out more and sign up to apply, visit http://www.theaccessgroup.com/stem
