What is STEM?
STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and maths, but it also includes:
- Subjects such as design and technology (D&T), and computing/ICT
- The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and data literacy across the curriculum
Your role is to ask questions about STEM
Ask your STEM subject leaders/department heads, or school/trust leaders the questions below. You don't need to ask all these questions in 1 go, so choose the questions most relevant to the focus of your discussion.
If you're the link governor for STEM, you can take a look at this article about the role of the STEM link governor.
Questions to ask subject leaders
Use these subject-specific questions during meetings with subject leaders, department heads, or lead teachers.
Design and technology (D&T)
Science
Maths
Computing/ICT
Questions to ask senior leaders
You don’t need to (and shouldn’t) ask all these questions in 1 go. Choose and adapt the ones most relevant to the purpose of your meeting, the responsibilities of the staff member you're meeting with and the context of your school/trust.
Questions for multi-academy trusts
These are examples of questions to ask those responsible for STEM at a trust level – this could be a meeting with the CEO, the central person in charge of curriculum delivery or school improvement, or a STEM co-ordinator if you trust has STEM as a priority.
Adapt these questions to fit your context and the responsibilities of the person you're meeting:
- How is the STEM curriculum aligned across all schools within the trust?
- What measures are in place to ensure consistency in STEM education across all schools?
- How do you support schools in sharing best practice and resources?
- What STEM training and development opportunities are available for teachers across the trust?
- How do you make sure that teachers in all schools have access to high-quality CPD in STEM subjects?
- Are there trust-wide initiatives or programmes to enhance STEM teaching?
- How do you measure and track STEM performance and outcomes across the trust?
- What metrics do you use to evaluate the effectiveness of our STEM programmes?
- How do you compare performance data between schools to identify areas for improvement?
- What strategies are in place for promoting STEM careers and pathways across the trust?
- How do you make sure that pupils in all schools have access to information and guidance about STEM careers?
- Are there trust-wide events/programmes that promote STEM careers to pupils?
- How do you foster collaboration and partnerships with external STEM organisations?
- What partnerships do you have with local businesses, higher education institutions and research organisations?
- How do these partnerships enhance STEM learning opportunities across the trust?
- How do you manage and allocate STEM resources and funding across the trust?
- How do you make sure that all schools have the necessary resources to deliver high-quality STEM education?
- Are there centralised procurement/funding strategies to maximise efficiency and impact?
Downloadable versions
They include the questions above, plus space for you to take notes. Download the version for your school type, then remove the questions you don’t need to make it your own:
Next steps
Remember, asking good questions isn't the only way you can monitor the STEM provision in your school.
Read more about:
- The role of the STEM link governor
- How to make STEM a strategic priority in your school/trust
- Statutory requirements for careers provision in secondary schools