Institution of Mechanical Engineers Introduction to National Science Learning Centre and National STEM Centre Yvonne Baker Chief Executive Myscience and.

Institution of Mechanical Engineers

Introduction toNational Science Learning Centreand National STEM Centre

Yvonne BakerChief Executive Myscience and Director, National Science Learning Centre

The Case for STEM

“STEM sectors enjoy higher than average productivity, and 65 per cent of UK exports are from high tech firms. High level STEM skills support advanced research and innovation, so contributing to economic growth. High level STEM skills therefore contribute disproportionately to GVA, and to the UK’s international economic competitiveness. “

The supply of and demand for high-level STEM Skills, UKCES December 2011

“Three out of four (72%) of businesses rely on people with STEM skills …. STEM study opens doors to a range of exciting opportunities by developing generic skills which are valued by all businesses, as well as the technical competencies needed for specific occupations. Seven in ten employers (69%) value the analytical skills, and 61% the problem-solving skills, developed through rigorous a education in science, maths and engineering.”

CBI Education and Skills survey, 2010

STEM is an international issue

The UK is making progress, but more to be done2002 - Professor Sir Gareth Roberts “Set for Success”

report published

2002 - STEM Ambassadors programme established

2003/4 - National network of Science Learning Centres

founded by DfE and Wellcome Trust

2005 - National Science Learning Centre opens its

doors

2008 - National Centre for Excellence in Teaching

Mathematics (NCETM) begins work

2008 - National STEM Centre opened

2009 - Big Bang Fair piloted

Enthusing young people is vital, but teachers remain key

• “No education system can exceed the quality of its teachers” – McKinsey 2007

• “The future of science depends on the quality of science teaching today.” – Wellcome Trust

• “The best science teachers … set out to ‘first maintain curiosity’ in their pupils.” - Ofsted, 2013.

The National Science Learning Centre

• Purpose-built facility on University of York campus

• Managed by Myscience.co Ltd, jointly owned by Universities of York, Leeds, Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam

• Residential facilities as well as high quality laboratories and teaching rooms.

• Aim – to give teachers and technicians access to high quality, subject specific CPD throughout their careers

Project ENTHUSE

• Unique partnership of government, charitable trusts, employers and professional institutions, supporting teachers’ engagement in STEM-specific CPD

• Current partners – BAE Systems, BP, Rolls-Royce, Department for Education, Wellcome Trust, IMechE

Project ENTHUSE

• Supports teachers’ interaction with NSLC through

– ENTHUSE Bursaries – contributing towards costs of participation in NSLC CPD

– Supporting CPD in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

– Partners’ involvement in CPD events

– Teacher recognition scheme and Alumni

– ENTHUSE Awards and Celebration Event – recognising and celebrating great STEM teaching across the UK

Project ENTHUSE

• Since being established in 2008

– Over 10,000 teachers and technicians received ENTHUSE Awards

– 72% of all UK state-funded secondary schools reached

– Over 4,000 UK schools reached

• Future priorities include reaching those schools which need help the most, primary education and support for vocational routes.

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Along with other support, ENTHUSE is making a real difference

Science Learning Centres opened

ENTHUSE Awards introduced

Impact An increasing body of evidence showing positive impacts on teachers, schools and ultimately young people –

• Teachers– Increased confidence and enhanced subject knowledge– Improved retention and, in some cases, career progression

• Schools– Increased uptake of STEM post-16 – STEM as a context across the school/college

• Young people – Improved achievement in STEM– More likely to pursue STEM– Better understanding of ‘where STEM can take you’’

Much has been achieved but there is more to be done ….• increasing need for STEM educated workforce in all

economies

• continuing concerns over supply of STEM skills

• ‘big challenges’ – energy, climate, food security, transport, rebalancing the economy

• changing education landscape – keeping science education, and STEM careers, high on headteachers’ agendas

That is why the NSLC, and the teachers and schools with which we work, are so grateful to the IMechE and other partners for your support.

• Co-located with National Science Learning Centre at University of York

• Aim - to provide easy, free of charge access to high-quality resources, information and guidance to support teachers in enhancing young people’s engagement with STEM subjects – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

National STEM Centre

• Over 8,000 digitised, quality assured resources on its eLibrary – all of which have been assessed by education specialists and are curriculum linked

• More than 25,000 resources in a physical resource Centre and archive – all freely available to view / try out by teachers of STEM subjects, trainee teachers and others wishing to support STEM

• In excess of 80,000 hits per month on the website

• 65,500 registered users from all phases of education

The National STEM Centre now has…

Working with IMechE and its members• Valued partner in Project ENTHUSE –

– Enabling more teachers and technicians to benefit from subject-specific CPD

– Contributions to NSLC courses and other events.– Working with ENTHUSE partners to support STEM

education across UK.

• Resources to disseminate through National STEM Centre eLibrary

• Continuing to raising the profile of STEM, and in particular STEM careers with young people, teachers, families and policy makers.

For more details/to get involved, please feel free to contact –

• Yvonne Baker, Chief Executive• E-mail: [email protected]

• Gemma Taylor, Technology CPD Lead • E-mail: [email protected]