A TEACHER at a Rugby secondary school is calling for a ‘revolution’ in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) learning, amid a drop in grades across Warwickshire.
New Ofqual figures analysed by Access Education show top GCSE grades in science subjects fell by just under 14 per cent across the county from 2022 to 2023 – one of the biggest decreases nationally.
Michael Whitehead, Assistant Department Head at Avon Valley School, has joined a group of teachers, governing bodies and industry experts who are calling for a change to current STEM teaching practices.
He 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 per cent 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 1,000 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.”
Emma Slater, head of education at Access Education – which provides content across STEM disciplines – said: “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.
“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.”
