STEM Education and Training Strategy for Scotland has now been published

A STEM (Sciences Technologies, Engineering and Mathematics) Education and Training Strategy was launched in the Scottish Parliament last week by Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science.  The strategy, together with a STEM Evidence Base Report, is now available to download from: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2017/10/1386/downloads

The strategy sets out the vision for STEM Education and Training for the next five years around the themes of Excellence, Equity, Inspiration and Connection. The ambitious actions for early learning and childcare, schools, colleges, universities and community learning and development (CLD) sectors have been developed through an extensive process of engagement and consultation.

Key commitments within the strategy include:

• Improving the supply of high-quality STEM graduates into teaching
• Recruiting a new network of STEM specialist advisors to support practitioners and raise STEM attainment
• Enhancing opportunities for children in early learning and childcare (ELC) to learn about STEM and their natural environment through outdoor play
• Delivering an enhanced programme of career-long professional learning for practitioners and technicians to improve STEM learning and teaching
• Launching a new on-line STEM resource and directory for practitioners
• Embedding best practice from the successful Improving Gender Balance project to improve participation by under-represented groups in STEM learning, courses and training, particularly for women and girls
• Establishing a new Young STEM leaders programme to grow and spread inspiration and enthusiasm for STEM, starting in the early and primary years of education
• Launching STEM Awards for ELC settings, schools and CLD settings
• Growing successful STEM partnerships between schools and employers through the Developing the Young Workforce Programme
• Helping science centres and festivals to attract under-served people of all ages and backgrounds
• Creating a STEM hub network to strengthen regional-level collaboration between partners, including universities, science centres and employers.

A central focus on the strategy is to enable everyone to develop STEM skills for learning, for life and for work. Also included are commitments to expand Foundation, Modern and Graduate Apprenticeship Programmes to enable many to pursue jobs and careers in STEM through these pathways. This strong focus on skills and careers will further enhance national efforts to Develop the Young Workforce (DYW) and embed employment and career management skills in the curriculum through the Career Education Standard.

Education Scotland would like to take this opportunity to thank the many practitioners, authority staff and partners who helped to shape this strategy by participating in on-line surveys or by taking part in consultation and engagement events. We are very much looking forward to working with key partners to realise the bold ambitions within the strategy and to improving outcomes for learners, of all ages, across Scotland through STEM.

We would be grateful for any help you can give in disseminating the strategy to your colleagues and networks. Please remember too to share your ideas, practice and approaches in relation to STEM through Twitter @EdscotSciences #ScotSTEM and through our national STEM Yammer Group: http://glo.li/2A7gCgr.