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; and if he will make a statement.

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

The Department funds several programmes to support good teaching. This includes £76 million over 5 years 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 a specific focus to support schools in greatest need, and the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme which aims to increase participation and attainment in level 3 mathematics.

In November 2018, the Department launched a new National Centre for Computing Education, supported by £84 million funding until July 2022, to improve the quality of computing teaching and drive up participation in computer science.

The national Network of Science Learning Partnerships provides support to primary and secondary schools to improve the quality of science teaching, and the Stimulating Physics Network aims to increase participation in A level physics, particularly among girls.