Boys dominating science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects is an age-old problem we have yet to solve. In 2018, 81 per cent of engineering and technology students were male. By 2020, 86.6 per cent of entrants to study computer science at GCSE were boys, leaving just over 21.4 per cent being girls. Sadly the numbers are moving in the wrong direction: in 2021 the number of female students sitting this exam dropped.
As a UTC we are a government funded, 13–19 year old provision, offering a blend of academic and technical education whilst specialising in Engineering and Creative and Digital Technologies, ensuring we target the local skills gap in order to retain talent locally.
Since the opening of the UTC, I have developed a multipronged and long-term approach to diversifying our classrooms, which I hope other schools and colleges can adopt. Here’s how we actively encourage women to go into STEM.
Role models
Sadly, women are relatively invisible in STEM. The GCSE science curriculum mentions 20 male scientists and not a single woman, reflecting society’s wider disinterest in female leaders in this area. This invisibility can make female students feel they’re not welcome as their achievements likely won’t be recognised, or that this is simply not an appropriate career for them to follow.
Schools can help rectify this by shining a light on the achievements of notable female inventors, physicists, engineers and biologists who have shaped the world. There is a huge opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women in STEM today, as the majority of the coronavirus vaccinations were developed and produced by women. Sharing videos on platforms such as ClickView about these role models can humanise their stories, making a real impact on students and shattering any misconceptions they may have.