EDUCATION
For Joe Swain, head of science at Stoke College, STEM is a hugely important subject area. “Students are learning about a wide variety of different topics and how they apply to the world,” he asserts. Other STEM specialists are equally persuasive. Rosie Rainsford, head of the STEM faculty and maths at St Faith’s, describes it as key to developing logical and analytical thinking required for solving problems. “We support pupils in building transferable skills for life and encourage them to question ‘why?’ to foster their enquiring minds,” she explains. Once mastered, it’s something used to build a deep understanding of core topics. “It encourages pupils to apply themselves to all their studies independently.” Developing ways of thinking that radiate out across the curriculum is something also stressed by Alexandra Simpson, director of exams and STEAM pathways at Felsted School. “These subjects all encourage problem solving and teach pupils how to think creatively and critically, conduct their own research, evaluate information, and then apply their knowledge,” she illustrates. If you want all the facts and figures demonstrating their successes, schools can reel them off by the dozen. Recent accomplishments for St Faith’s students have included the University of Cambridge’s Coding Challenge and the Raspberry Pi Competition. YOUNG TALENT Students enjoy state-of-the-art STEM programmes from The Perse School, Stoke College and St Faith’s. The new Dyson STEAM Building at Gresham’s is providing all sorts of opportunities (bottom right)
Being at the cutting edge of STEM will matter even more in the future
80 MARCH 2023 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
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