International day of Women and GIrls in Science

On the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the School Standards Minister has called on teachers, parents and society in general to challenge and dispel misconceptions some girls have about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

Key facts:

  • New data published for the first time today by the Department for Education shows school girls in England are substantially less likely than boys to consider taking STEM subjects at A Level than boys. 
  • Britain has made considerable progress in increasing girls’ participation in STEM subjects since 2010, with the proportion of girls taking STEM A Levels and the number of women being accepted onto full-time STEM undergraduate courses both increasing by a quarter. 
  • The new research, however, shows that certain misconceptions are still prevalent, and we all have a part to play, including parents and teachers, to dispel misconceptions about STEM subjects and help encourage our scientists of future generations. 
  • The Conservative government is determined to ensure girls’ participation in STEM subjects continues to rise, and that’s why we are funding programmes to increase the take up of maths, computing and physics, and have reformed the school curriculum to make sure it meets the needs of employers. 

Why this matters:

There is growing demand for STEM skills, particularly for sectors such as engineering, construction and manufacturing, and it’s essential that gender is no barrier to ensuring that all young people have the knowledge and skills to succeed in our outward looking and dynamic economy.

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