FUTURE TALENTED Autumn Term 2018 - Issue 1 | Page 48

1 2 ›› week, you’ll have a greater impact than focusing on one-off activities.” Employers also host STEM Insight placements for teachers to spend 5-10 days on-site, immersing themselves in the industry and seeing what jobs entail. Afterwards, teachers receive CPD to help them embed their learning into the classroom and convey what they have learned to pupils. Keeping up with technology To date, STEM Learning has supported 128 ENTHUSE Partnerships. External evaluation shows that 100% of participating headteachers would recommend these to a peer. With help from employers, STEM Learning hopes to support a further 1,000 partnerships over the next five years. Dainty is confident that results will be noted within this time frame. “We want to see an increase in the number of young people pursuing STEM careers,” she says. “We’ve seen a positive trajectory in aspiration, interest and confidence and young people’s minds opened to STEM careers, so it’s exciting. “We will continue evolving support to fit the needs of schools and employers and will ensure this reflects new tech and future careers, so we are truly preparing young people to succeed. If that improves the STEM talent pipeline we’ll be happy.” 3 4 5 6 7 8 SPOTLIGHT ON TWO GSK ENTHUSE PARTNERSHIPS: Gatsby Benchmarks NORTH HERTS TEACHING ALLIANCE MONIFIETH HIGH Ten secondary schools in Hertfordshire, led by the North Herts Teaching Alliance, are focusing their ENTHUSE Partnership on raising the attainment of Year 9 pupil premium students through improving their understanding of maths and science. Two secondary schools, one primary school and an FE college are focusing their ENTHUSE Partnership on technologies to enhance transition and inform choices when exploring pathways to encourage girls into STEM. The focus is on closing the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students through a series of student activities and bespoke CPD sessions. Opportunities are being developed through the STEM Learning network for students and teachers to engage with local employers and explore future career options. Working with GSK This year, pharmaceutical giant GSK began working with STEM Learning through six new fully funded ENTHUSE Partnerships located near to GSK’s UK sites. These bring much-needed support to groups of schools and colleges around the UK, enabling them to improve young people’s outcomes in STEM. GSK is committed to encouraging more pupils, from all backgrounds, to progress in STEM studies and careers; supporting social mobility and underpinning the UK economy. Participating schools are building strong links with GSK employees, This will start in primary and continue into secondary through a variety of projects, with a plan to increase uptake in STEM subjects in senior school. The activities will focus on: structures, aerodynamics & car design; and coding & design in architecture. The impact will be measured by looking at changes in attitude towards STEM subjects, knowledge of careers and gender bias in this area. including their STEM Ambassadors. Teachers benefit from proven STEM- specific professional development, and pupils will have multiple opportunities to learn where STEM can take them. Dr Cara Matthew, acting deputy head at Monifieth High School, says: “We are thrilled to take part in this GSK ENTHUSE Partnership – it will enable us to work with other local schools and colleges to build a sustainable model of collaborative support, where we share good practice and expertise, providing pupils with a different experience of science and technology. Our aim is to increase the uptake and performance of our pupils in STEM subjects and to provide our young people with a greater insight into potential career pathways.” Developing relationships GET INVOLVED If you would like to get involved in an ENTHUSE Partnership with other schools and colleges in your local area and engage with STEM employers, visit bit.ly/EnthusePartnerships 48 // STEM For businesses, the partnerships will help build the STEM skills pipeline locally and nationally, boost employee motivation and skills through working with young people and develop relationships with future employees. Kerry O’Callaghan, vice president, global brand, GSK, says: “As a science-led global healthcare company, GSK is committed to looking at ways to further STEM education, helping to inspire the next generation, who will deliver groundbreaking ideas. We are excited to join the ENTHUSE Alliance to increase access to high-quality learning opportunities in STEM subjects.”