As we move further into the 2024 academic year, a range of updates across the STEM and general education landscape offers valuable insights for UK teachers. From curriculum developments to policy changes, this blog takes a deep dive into key news stories that surfaced over the past week (11th to 17th September 2024). Whether you're teaching in secondary schools, FE colleges, or academies, there's something here for every STEM educator.
1. Changes to School Exclusions and Ofsted Ratings
One major headline this week relates to changes in how schools will be rated by Ofsted. The "one-word school rating system" will be scrapped in favour of a more nuanced review process. This is especially significant for schools with STEM-heavy curriculums where performance can often be more challenging to summarise in a single rating. Read more here.
The scrapping of one-word ratings also coincides with the rising numbers of school exclusions, particularly in students receiving free school meals. Studies show that children from disadvantaged backgrounds are five times more likely to face permanent exclusion. These changes are crucial as they reflect the broader challenges within the education system, many of which impact STEM subject participation and retention. Full story here.
2. Digital Skills: As Important as Maths and English?
A new opinion piece published in FE Week argues that digital literacy needs to be prioritised on par with English and Maths. With the rapid advancement of technology in classrooms and industry, this reinforces the need for educators to ensure students have the skills necessary for future careers, especially in STEM fields. As automation and AI play an increasingly dominant role in the workforce, teachers are urged to embed digital skills across their curriculum. Explore the article here.
3. Natural History GCSE Stalls
A natural history GCSE, initially proposed to bolster environmental education, has encountered political roadblocks and remains on hold. With growing emphasis on sustainability and environmental issues in the STEM world, many teachers had hoped this GCSE would be available sooner. The delay reflects broader concerns over curriculum prioritisation post-election. Read the full story here.
4. Apprenticeship and Skills Developments
The past week also saw important announcements in the field of apprenticeships. The Apprenticeship and Training Awards 2025 have been officially launched, celebrating the successes of vocational and STEM-related skills training across the UK. These awards spotlight the key role that apprenticeships play in developing future engineers, IT specialists, and scientists. Details here.
5. SEND and Inclusion Concerns
A theme across several reports this week has been the rising pressures on schools to support students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The annual CST survey has shown that inclusion is the top priority for academy CEOs, but they continue to struggle with budget shortfalls that limit their ability to provide proper SEND provisions. STEM teachers, in particular, face unique challenges in adapting lesson plans to ensure accessibility for all students. Read the full analysis.
Reflections for Teachers
Here are some reflection points to consider as you engage with your students and colleagues this week:
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Digital Literacy in STEM: How can you ensure your students are gaining the necessary digital skills to complement their STEM education? Consider ways to incorporate coding, data analysis, and other digital tools into your lesson plans.
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SEND and STEM: How inclusive is your classroom for students with special needs? Could additional resources or training help you better accommodate these students, particularly in science labs or technology workshops?
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Environmental Responsibility in STEM: With delays in the natural history GCSE, is there scope within your existing curriculum to introduce sustainability-focused projects that align with your STEM lessons? For example, could you tie in climate science with mathematics or engineering solutions?
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Apprenticeships as a Pathway: Encourage students to explore vocational routes alongside traditional academic pathways. Apprenticeships in engineering, IT, and science offer practical skills that are highly valued in today’s workforce.
For further reading, don’t miss out on the full articles linked throughout this blog
Note: This blog post is an AI curated summary of news articles from various sources. The aim is to provide educators with a comprehensive overview of recent developments in the education sector. All hyperlinks direct readers to the original news articles for further reading.