The importance of STEM in preparing pupils for successful careers
Posted on 20th Jan 2025 in School News, International Education, International Schools, STEMHaileybury, UK, shares the benefits of STEM education and why it’s essential in shaping pupils’ future.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, otherwise known as STEM subjects, are becoming ever more vital to young people’s education. With a workforce increasingly reliant on technology, data and innovation, the classroom has become the central point to provide the next generation with the skills to thrive in the modern world and make positive change in society.
By engaging pupils in the likes of coding, how to use AI effectively and how to invent new technology, not only are we creating young people who have a love for learning and an analytical mindset, but we are ensuring they are set up for successful careers.
Independent schools are excellently placed to be at the forefront of STEM education and support their pupils to progress onto esteemed jobs. At Haileybury, one of the country’s leading co-educational independent boarding and day schools based in the Hertfordshire countryside, we are dedicated to giving our pupils a world of opportunity and as such, fully embrace the value of STEM. This goes beyond simply teaching the four subjects in our classrooms. It is about a holistic education in which we embed STEM skills throughout the curriculum and co-curricular activities, bringing learning to life with meaningful real-world scenarios and showing our pupils the merit STEM can bring to their careers.
Independent schools can provide exceptional STEM facilities which often include ultramodern laboratories and unique facilities such as VR rooms and robotics labs which enable educators to provide pupils with hands-on experiences to enhance their learning. At Haileybury, we have significantly invested in innovation for our pupils, doubling our science provision by opening new state-of-the-art Science and Technology buildings in 2024. This has revolutionised teaching and learning in these disciplines, improving the already strong science provision at the school by offering the latest technology to further challenge our pupils. We now not only teach science to our pupils but allow them to become scientists.
One way we are doing this is in our new Research Centre, which is home to international and pioneering research, including the prestigious Stan-X project. This partnership with scientists from Stanford University in the US allows some of our pupils to be part of a revolutionary study into genetics using fruit flies, potentially contributing to efforts to find cures for diseases such as diabetes and pancreatic cancer. We are the first school in Europe to participate in Stan-X and findings, which have been coauthored by 16 Haileybury pupils and former pupils so far, as well as instructors, have already been published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal, G3- Genes, Genomes and Genetics.
There are also many other exciting initiatives taking place in our Research Centre, including our pupils working on launching a CubeSat space mission. Thanks to our teachers’ expert guidance and support, pupils are learning about spacecraft system engineering, mission planning and orbital mechanics. We are aiming to be the first secondary school in the UK to launch a CubeSat into space. We also offer an innovative robotics programme that enables our pupils to explore cutting-edge developments in autonomous function within robotics and programming. Initiatives such as these provide pupils with unique and inspiring experiences and open doors to many different career paths.
Supported by outstanding facilities, independent schools are in the fortunate position to offer opportunities that also go beyond the curriculum. Utilising the expertise of staff, resources and strategic partnerships, independent schools can provide experiences that add even greater value to pupils’ development. For example, STEM and sustainability go hand in hand and at Haileybury, we have joined the worldwide Drinkable Rivers Citizen Science Programme and are one of 65 hubs set up to help monitor and preserve the health of rivers across the world. Our pupils are therefore playing a vital role in tracking and protecting the health of the River Lea, deepening their knowledge and understanding of data extraction and processing and the importance of looking after the environment.
More widely with sustainability and STEM, our pupils and staff have worked together to develop our sustainability practice further and create a better future for the community. We have set an ambitious target to reach zero-carbon and energy self-sufficiency by 2030. We are establishing sustainability as a way of life for our pupils, ensuring it runs throughout all parts of the school, including the curricula in our classrooms, our pupils’ charity work and our co-curricular activities and clubs such as beekeeping and conversation. This gives our young people a deep understanding of the technology, innovation and know-how needed to successfully implement sustainability initiatives which will be essential for all businesses, organisations and jobs in the future.
Independent schools are also forward-thinking, leading the way for other educational institutions. This is especially the case with Artificial Intelligence (AI) which is playing an increasingly significant role not only in education but within the workplace. While it offers many possibilities if harnessed effectively, it also poses risks which is why we have launched a school-wide AI strategy and introduced a new digital literacy course to help inform staff, parents and pupils about how to use AI effectively and ethically. We have changed how we set homework, conduct lessons and support our pupils to ensure they are guided to use AI appropriately, safely and discerningly, equipping them with the savvy needed to protect themselves and add value to the workplace.
There is no doubt that STEM and the surrounding disciplines will be essential for the modern workforce to understand, navigate and implement. Therefore, to support children to thrive in their future careers, picking a school that champions STEM will be critical. International and independent schools are exceptionally placed to deliver STEM excellence, offering outstanding facilities, high-quality teaching and unique experiences beyond the curriculum that provide young people with the skills and mindset needed to harness these disciplines effectively for their futures and for society.
This article first appeared in the 2024/25 edition of John Catt's Guide to International Schools, which you can read here: