STEM Clubs

They joined former Science Minister and President of STEMNET Lord Sainsbury and Diana Johnson MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools and Learners, to celebrate the new national network.

The young people attending were from schools and colleges that have been running After School Science & Engineering Clubs as part of a highly successful DCSF-funded pilot scheme launched in 2006 that now involves 500 schools across the UK. The pilot clubs have been flourishing and helping to inspire the next generation to study and pursue careers in STEM by bringing these subjects to life in a way that isn’t always possible in the classroom.

Lord Sainsbury set out plans for the new STEM Clubs Network which has grown out of the pilot and which will begin in the academic year 2009/10. Every school and college in the UK will be able to join the network either by starting a new club or affiliating their existing club.

Diana Johnson said: "STEM is central to addressing some of the biggest challenges we face today, from climate change and energy security to combating disease. With independent projections suggesting there will be almost 2.4 million science, maths and technology related jobs by 2017, we are going to need to unlock the very best of British scientific talent in the years ahead.

"We are spending £140 million from 2008-2011 on supporting science, technology, engineering, and maths in schools.

"We have set aside £7million to fund After School STEM Clubs. 500 after school STEM clubs have been rolled out so far, which enrich, enhance and extend the curriculum for 11 to 14 year olds.

"I'm happy to say that the expansion of the pilot into a UK wide STEM Clubs Network will now aim to establish a STEM club in every school."

At the launch of the new STEM Clubs Network, pupils from Hanham High School in Bristol and Tanfield School in County Durham which have been involved in the pilot showcased some of the experiments and projects. The pupils stood up and gave captivating performances in front of the Minister and Lord Sainsbury.

Their activities so far have included designing space suits, building remote controlled robots and setting up their own weather station. The teachers spoke of the huge benefits that the clubs have brought to their school and to the students.