The 2024 General Election has concluded, bringing a new direction for the UK's education system. The Labour government is now set to implement its promises from their manifesto - but what does this mean for STEM education in England?
Labour aims to raise standards in education to break down barriers to opportunity. As part of this, they intend to recruit more than 6,500 expert teachers, funded by ending the VAT exemption for private schools.
STEM Learning recognises the need for expert teachers in every classroom, which is paramount in allowing all children to succeed. While plans for the recruitment of new teachers is necessary, it is essential that the Labour government focuses, through the introduction of a Teacher Training Entitlement, on how to retain the excellent teachers already supporting young people across the country every day.
This is especially important in STEM subjects, where there is a clear issue with recruiting new teachers, resulting in too many STEM classes being taught by non-specialists. STEM Learning recognises the important role that high-quality subject-specific CPD (Continuing Professional Development) offers in retaining teachers. This is particularly true in STEM subjects, where research by the Wellcome Trust has shown that subject-specific CPD for science teachers increased the likelihood they would stay in the profession by 160%.
STEM Learning is proud to already be a leading organisation in designing and delivering a fantastic subject-specific CPD, which offers immediate advantages for teachers and technicians, leading students to achieve better results at both GCSE and A-Level.
Additionally, the Labour government has promised a full curriculum review, promising that young people will have a broader and richer curriculum to prepare them for their futures. This includes a renewed focus on ensuring all children acquire the necessary digital skills - which reinforces the importance of computing opportunities for young people which the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE) and its I Belong scheme offers.
I Belong encourages girls to pursue computer science, addressing gender imbalances in STEM fields and promoting gender equality. This initiative, along with support and resources available from the NCCE, ensures that all students have access to high-quality computing education, preparing them for a successful and rewarding future careers. Labour's commitment to a curriculum review underscores the necessity of equipping young people with the skills needed to navigate and learn about the range of STEM careers, especially in computing.
Labour has stated that they aim to break down the barriers to educational opportunities and narrow the attainment gap. Other pledges from their manifesto include broadening opportunities for young people by improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools and ensuring that SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) schools can support children with complex needs.
STEM Learning offers many opportunities to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including Research Placements and Experiences. These provide engaging, hands-on projects to Year 12 students, who have the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the work of a host organisation. These collaborations relate to areas of science, quantitative social science, computing, technology, engineering, or maths.
Providing young people with opportunities ensures that we are contributing to the growth of the talent pool and encourages them to pursue further studies and careers in STEM-related fields. STEM Learning aims to break down the barriers of educational opportunities and put young people on a more equal playing field, aligning closely with Labour’s plans for removing barriers that are currently present in the system. Furthermore, STEM Learning supports fully the government’s intention to provide free breakfast clubs in every primary school, aiming to improve attendance and standards, thus supporting children to achieve and thrive in all subjects.
STEM Learning’s new CPD offer - which is more flexible and has a wider offering than ever - seeks to improve wellbeing, reduce teacher workload, and increase retention at both national and regional level. As we transition to a commercial CPD model, it is crucial to align our offerings with the Government’s new educational priorities. The Labour Party’s focus on raising educational standards, increasing teacher support, and enhancing inclusivity directly supports the need for CPD in schools.
STEM Learning offers many opportunities and resources for young people, and it's an exciting time to support the Labour government in their commitment to raising standards in education and improving teacher retention through high quality, subject-specific CPD and support to those in the profession.
Primary CPD
Secondary CPD