Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to increase the number of girls participating in core STEM subjects after the age of 16.

In England, the department have taken focussed action to increase the take-up of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects after the age of 16. Whilst we have seen the number of girls taking STEM A levels increase by 18 per cent since 2010, there is still more to do.

That is why we are investing in programmes to encourage take up in STEM-related subjects and courses, including announcing substantial spending commitments in the Autumn Budget 2017 on mathematics, digital skills and technical education. For example:

• to increase the take-up of mathematics (such as a new post-16 mathematics premium), computing and physics;
• to support better teaching of mathematics, science and computing in schools, including a new £84 million programme to improve computing teaching, with a particular focus on girls.

We are also improving STEM careers advice in schools in the recently published ‘Careers strategy: making the most of everyone’s skills and talents’. For example, we support wider government initiatives such as the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy’s STEM Ambassador programme. The STEM Ambassador programme represents a network of over 30,000 volunteers from scientific research and business who visit schools, Further Education colleges and youth or science clubs, encouraging participation in STEM and providing real-life examples of careers in STEM. 42 per cent of the ambassadors are women, providing visible role models for girls wishing to pursue STEM.

We are taking action to address gender disparities in the take up of STEM-related apprenticeships through a range of activities. These include taking part in the Year of Engineering 2018 and use of the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s Apprenticeship Diversity Champions Network. We have also made it easier for part-time workers to undertake apprenticeships, such as those with caring responsibilities and lone parents.