STEM Networking and Engaging KS1-3 children with STEM Aims: Share strategies and ideas for STEM networking. Explore benefits and barriers to STEM learning in KS1-3. Discuss practical ideas for engaging students with STEM. Holly Aiston – KS3 Science co-ordinator and Primary Liaison, St Anne’s Catholic School, Southampton RAEng CST Teacher Co-ordinator

Why STEM? Large shortage of young people, particularly women, entering STEM industries within the UK “There is a worrying lack of students studying STEM subjects at school, with only 20pc of students studying them beyond GCSEs…” BAE Systems human resource director John Whelan Reports from industry suggest students are unprepared for the STEM workplace. “Major survey of employers, over two-thirds of companies believe that (secondary) schools are ineffective at preparing young people for careers” The study, involving 3,500 business and education leaders, published by British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). Huge range of jobs available across many different fields from biomechanics to aeronautics, to footwear or food engineering! Funding, support and resources available.

Why Keystages 1-3? Need to engage young people early so their love of STEM subjects sustains them through the exam years. “We need to reach out to children early and excite them about studying the subject, supporting teachers’ great work in schools.” BAE Systems human resource director John Whelan More time flexibility than KS4 and 5. Scope to use STEM as a vehicle for teaching other subjects and therefore embedding STEM in to the curriculum. Exciting, challenging, hands-on, inspiring and ever-changing within a ‘real world’ context.

S.W.O.T Analysis Strengths of your current school in terms of STEM Weaknesses of your current school in terms of STEM Opportunities for STEM – current and future Threats/obstacles to STEM learning

Benefits of Networking Shared expertise, support and even resources Funding opportunities Fun and inspiring to work with other teachers Time and energy saving

Benefits of Networking Shared expertise, support and even resources Funding opportunities Fun and inspiring to work with other teachers Time and energy saving Confidence-building Mutually beneficial for primaries, secondaries, universities and industry.

Overcoming Challenges (a lot!) – if you don’t ask, you don’t get! Highlight mutual benefits Offer something new, different and time-saving Get school leaders, other staff and parents on board Look for outside funding and support e.g. FREE resources, funding opportunities, Royal societies, STEMnet, STEM ambassadors, Primary engineer and Tomorrow’s Engineers etc.

Take Away Menu Tim Peake and the ISS project Deployable structures (RAEng) Health and well-being including a world/European cup football themed project Inheritance and the Environment – shorter individual ideas Disaster Response – how do engineers help people? (RAEng) Also Arkive have released a new KS2-3 Engineering in nature resource which looks good!

Q&A Holly Aiston – KS3 Science co-ordinator and Primary Liaison, St Anne’s Catholic School, Southampton RAEng CST Teacher Co-ordinator