Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to increase the take-up of STEM subjects for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Government is committed to increasing the number of pupils taking science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects including those from disadvantaged backgrounds. There were 47,000 more exam entries to STEM A levels in 2018 compared to 2010, which is an increase of 23%.

Good teaching is essential to increase take-up of STEM subjects. The Department funds a number of programmes to support this aim. These programmes include specific focus on schools with the greatest need, including those in disadvantaged areas. This includes the £76 million of funding that the Department provides for the network of maths hubs and the Teaching for Mastery programme, which aims to reach 11,000 primary and secondary schools by 2023 and has specific focus to support schools in greatest need. It also includes the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme, which aims to increase participation and attainment in level 3 mathematics with a focus on schools from disadvantaged areas, including schools in Opportunity Areas.

In November 2018, the Department launched a new National Centre for Computing Education, (NCCE) supported by £84 million of funding until July 2022. The aim of the NCCE is to improve the quality of the teaching of computing. This programme will help improve take-up and attainment of computing at GCSE and A level, with a focus on schools in disadvantaged areas.

The Department also funds the national network of Science Learning Partnerships, which supports science teachers to improve the quality of science teaching, as well as the Stimulating Physics Network, which aims to increase participation in A level physics, particularly among girls.