£140m to boost STEM education in England
1 min read
In a move to boost interest in science and technology, the Government wants school science and technology lessons to be more exciting. The strategy is being backed by £140million of funding, which will provide for retraining existing teachers, as well as recruiting specialists.
According to the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), the £140m, available over the next three years, more than doubles the amount spent between 2005 and 2008.
Schools minister Jim Knight said he wanted to maintain and enhance Britain’s tradition for producing world class scientists and engineers. “When I visit schools, I see that science and maths lessons can be exciting and inspiring. I want more science in action in the classroom, more ‘flash bang’ to enthuse budding scientists.”
According to the DCSF, the scheme is aimed at increasing the number of science and maths teachers, improving results at GCSE and getting more young people studying science, technology, engineering and maths after the age of 16.
There will be £31m dedicated to recruitment and training, of which £11.4m will go towards retraining existing teachers to become STEM specialists.
Some £34m will go towards boosting the numbers of teenagers taking up STEM subjects post 16, with up to £9m allowing more pupils to take three separate GCSEs in physics, chemistry and biology.
A further £9m will pay for improving the way pupils learn, for instance by doubling the number of science and engineering clubs in schools from 250 to 500.
