The Clubs will run activities to show the creativity, problem-solving and employability skills that STEM subjects offer.
A recent CBI report showed an 86% increase in employer demand for people with science, engineering and hi-tech skills.
Research from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) shows that involvement with a STEM Club increases by half the proportion of pupils who say they would want a job in STEM. Sixty one percent of pupils who have had involvement with a STEM Club want a job that involves STEM, compared to 37% of all pupils.
The STEM Clubs Week of activity is being coordinated by the education charity, STEMNET, and it aims to encourage and inspire all schools to form a club. It will share photos and videos and offer prizes for the best activities.
Kirsten Bodley, STEMNET’s CEO, said: “Inspiring young people to develop STEM skills broadens their opportunities, offers tangible skills for addressing the global challenges we face and supports the UK’s future competitiveness. There is a worrying deficit in the number of young people pursuing STEM careers, yet we know that STEM Clubs do make a difference. Young people are nearly twice as likely to be interested in a job that involves STEM if they have had involvement with a STEM Club. STEM Clubs Week is a wonderful opportunity to share these benefits even more widely amongst schools.”
