Girls in STEAM

The future employment opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) include new and currently unimagined jobs, and schools are on an exciting journey as a more integrated approach to innovation and design has gathered momentum. Many schools, such as Cheltenham Ladies’ College, are responding to this challenge with enthusiasm.

Nationally, girls have tended to opt out of science subjects, but the number of classes being taught at Cheltenham Ladies’ College continues to rise, including a majority of sixth form pupils taking Maths or Science. Studies suggest that girls benefit from early advice given by careers advisers and teachers, so it is important that schools provide the tools and opportunities for pupils to make an informed choice.

For example, Cheltenham Ladies’ College’s

“Cheltenham Ladies’ College’s dedicated Engineering, Enterprise and Technology (EET) curriculum pushes these academic boundaries, teaching not only the practicalities of design, programming, or soldering for example, but also including business awareness, sustainability, experimenting and testing to destruction within its remit” dedicated Engineering, Enterprise and Technology (EET) curriculum pushes these academic boundaries, teaching not only the practicalities of design, programming, or soldering for example, but also including business awareness, sustainability, experimenting and testing to destruction within its remit. The girls gain practical experience of 3D printing, computer-aided design (CAD), laser cutters and more traditional tools, and have the opportunity to visit CERN, in Switzerland and explore the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Recent projects from individual students have included a Page-Turning Device, Anxiety Attack Watch, and Alzheimer’s Pill Box. The impact of such breadth and opportunity is testament to the importance of STEAM subjects in enabling girls to thrive in areas that are not traditionally popular with young women. cheltladiescollege.org

Textiles is also embedded within the curriculum. The pupils undertake practical activities to understand fabrics, construction and manufacturing skills, and the design process. The application of these skills in a commercial context, allows the girls to produce innovative work, from dresses for an Upcycled Fashion Show to preparation for university courses.

The school’s curriculum reflects the wider need for STEAM subjects to embrace the importance of imagination and conversations about the human condition, the environment, meaning and purpose. The opportunities for innovation, design, science and technology have never been so exciting for schools.