A-level STEM subjects increase, but not enough to plug the gap

The lack of students studying science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects at graduate level could be detrimental to British society.

Even as STEM subjects studied at post-16 level increases, industry and business organisations have voiced their concerns that the technology gap experienced by industry is unlikely to be plugged in time, particularly as demand is set to increase over the coming years.

The Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) have warned that over a third of engineering companies in the UK report a lack of confidence in recruiting suitably qualified graduates to meet the needs of their businesses.

The organisation have also highlighted that 20 per cent of science related jobs in the UK are filled by workers from overseas.

In response to this gap in skills, the Government has provided an additional £21 million of funding in a bid to contribute to the development of a national higher education (HE) STEM sector.

The release of A-level results last week confirmed that the Government’s drive to increase the number of pupils studying science is working, following a small increase in students studying STEM subjects.

A-level Biology and chemistry entries rose by 4 per cent this year, to 57,854 and 44,051 respectively, while entries to A-level physics rose by 5 per cent.

The number taking physics remains well below the other sciences at 30,976.

Maths this year rose by 6 per cent to 77,001, following a 12 per cent increase last year.

However, despite these small increases in student numbers, the IET have stated that the amount of students studying STEM is still not enough to fill the widening skills gap experienced by industry today.

Paul Davies, Head of Policy at the IET says, “Unless we see a dramatic change in the number of young people progressing into STEM courses and then careers, the UK will struggle to deliver the new technology and infrastructure needed for a green economy.”

With green initiatives high on the Coalition’s agenda, the IET have said the UK will struggle to meet these needs without a step change in the number of young people pursuing STEM careers within the next two years.

CBI, the UK business lobbying organiation have also voiced their concerns over the lack of STEM students.

Susan Anderson, CBI Director of Education & Skills, stated that the increase in maths A-level was “encouraging”, yet signaled the levels of young people studying maths post-16 are still too low.

Only 17 per cent of students study formal maths beyond GSCE in England.

Anderson comments: “Maths is useful for all areas of study and a vital part of working life, and having a solid grasp of numeracy and maths is valued by all employers. This is why the CBI wants all students to be expected to continue with some form of maths study.”

Just last week CBI called upon the state education sector to address the small number of state educated children pursuing science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects at a higher education level.

Citing figures from the Department of Education, students at private schools are one-and-a-half times more likely to study maths A-level and two-and-a-half times more likely to take further maths than state school students.

Further, seven per cent of comprehensive school students take at least one science A-level compared with 33 per cent of grammar school students and 28 per cent of private school students.

Anderson states: “When young people study science and maths at school, they improve their prospects. Young people are missing out on opportunities later in life because they are not studying enough science and maths at school. Parents, pupils and teachers need to understand this.”

She continues: “Unless the numbers taking science and maths subjects at school and university rise, Britain faces a skills shortage which will weaken our economy.

In Germany the study of maths is compulsory in all streams of the secondary education system, and in France 70 per cent take maths post-16.