Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to help ensure diversity in students studying STEM subjects at university.

Widening access and participation in higher education (HE) is a priority for this government. This means that everyone with the capability to succeed in HE should have the opportunity, regardless of their background, ethnicity, gender, or where they grew up.

The Office for Students (as the regulator for higher education in England) has a duty to promote equality of opportunity in relation to access and participation in HE and we expect to see further progress, particularly amongst the most selective institutions.

Overall numbers of students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are rising. The share of students studying science subjects at English HE providers has increased from 41% in 2010/11 to 45% in 2016/17.

Despite rising STEM student numbers, we are far from complacent. The Department for Education is committed to tackling the gender imbalance in STEM subjects, and has invested in programmes to address female participation, particularly in subjects like computing and physics. This includes the Stimulating Physics Network which has a specific strand focusing on increasing the number of girls studying physics A level. A Gender Balance in Computing Pilot Programme will be launched this year to identify practical interventions that schools can implement to improve girls’ participation in computing.

They are also funding a new £84 million programme to improve computing teaching and participation, and the Advanced Maths Premium which aims to support schools and colleges in tackling some of the financial barriers to increase participation in post-16 maths.

The department is improving careers advice in schools so that young people are aware of the high quality options available for both technical and academic routes into STEM and that they have access to information about the variety of careers that STEM pathways have to offer. STEM activities, including employer talks and work visits, are built into school career programmes and the Careers & Enterprise Company funds opportunities for young people to meet a wide range of STEM employers.