The future prosperity of the UK is, to a large extent, dependent on our young people choosing STEM-related subjects.

Science, technology, engineering and maths

(STEM) subjects are vital to the country’s economic and social development. The role of STEM skills  is to help improve the quality of people’s everyday lives and find solutions to global challenges, such as sustainable economic development.

Recent research highlights the shortfall in the number of people choosing to study STEM subjects, as well as the need to double the supply of skilled workers in STEM-related jobs in the next seven to ten years. This is a situation that we at St Mary's are seeking to change.

By 2014, it is expected that the UK will need to fill around three-quarters of a million extra jobs requiring highly numerate, analytical people with STEM skills. Yet currently, six out of ten (59%) firms employing STEM-skilled staff say they are having difficulty recruiting. The low take-up of STEM subjects at university is a large part of the problem and there has been a 15% fall in engineering and technology graduates (23,300 to 19,700) over the past decade.

To tackle the decline we need to engage the interest and enthusiasm of young people, and demonstrate the relevance of STEM knowledge and skills to everyday life. We also need to promote excitement about the UK’s world-class science base in sectors including

Pharmaceuticals

Aerospace

Telecommunications

Mobile phone technology

Oil and gas exploration

Scientists, Engineers and Technicians.

We are all living in a world struggling to deal with issues of climate change and a rising population, with associated demands on water supply, food production and energy. This challenging background means that our young people can both build strong futures and make a difference by choosing STEM subjects and careers.

At Coleraine College we are proud of committment to the STEM Agenda and the provision we offer including:

• specific lessons as part of the PSHE & CEIAG Programmes
• explicit, planned content in other curriculum subjects
• whole school and extended timetable activities
• specific projects and experiences

For the first time there is also explicit reference to the real-life application of each of the subjects, with real scope for a strong partnership between STEM subject teachers and those responsible for PSHE education and wider personal and career development.