1. STEM Ambassadors – an overview
Statistics quoted in this meeting are from an INDEPENDENT NFER Evaluation. The National Foundation for Educational Research has undertaken an interim review of STEMNET’s operations and impact.
First bullet
STEM Ambassadors are crucial to other networks and programmes – their time , enthusiasm and support is what underpins the delivery of events and initiatives such as Big Bang Fair and Tomorrow’s Engineers
Improving the quality of primary and secondary teaching
Teachers gain an increased knowledge of STEM careers options and the skills required by such careers through engaging with STEMNET’s programmes. They report that they have improved relationships with business and industry.
77% report increased awareness of STEM career and employment options
71% report an increased understanding of STEM business and industry
67% report increased use of real life contexts in teaching
A substantial proportion of teachers report that they are more likely to remain in their role as a teacher of STEM as a result of taking part in the STEM Ambassadors Programme (46%). Ultimately, 97% of teachers would recommend the STEM Ambassadors Programme to their colleagues.
Teachers report that the Schools’ STEM Advisory Network (SSAN) is particularly useful for providing information and guidance about STEM initiatives, resources and projects, and about professional development and training opportunities. It also facilitates relationship-building with other schools, local universities, and STEM-related industries.
63% of teachers report that the SSAN advice and information has helped them to understand how STEM activities can enhance pupils’ learning.
65% state that it raises their awareness of opportunities that link to the curriculum.

2. STEMNET
Supports pupils, teachers and schools by improving the general understanding of STEM concepts and careers
More than 600,000 young people and 20,000 teachers benefit from direct contact with STEM Ambassadors each year in the UK
Statistics quoted in this meeting are from an INDEPENDENT NFER Evaluation. The National Foundation for Educational Research has undertaken an interim review of STEMNET’s operations and impact.
First bullet
STEM Ambassadors are crucial to other networks and programmes – their time , enthusiasm and support is what underpins the delivery of events and initiatives such as Big Bang Fair and Tomorrow’s Engineers
Improving the quality of primary and secondary teaching
Teachers gain an increased knowledge of STEM careers options and the skills required by such careers through engaging with STEMNET’s programmes. They report that they have improved relationships with business and industry.
77% report increased awareness of STEM career and employment options
71% report an increased understanding of STEM business and industry
67% report increased use of real life contexts in teaching
A substantial proportion of teachers report that they are more likely to remain in their role as a teacher of STEM as a result of taking part in the STEM Ambassadors Programme (46%). Ultimately, 97% of teachers would recommend the STEM Ambassadors Programme to their colleagues.
Teachers report that the Schools’ STEM Advisory Network (SSAN) is particularly useful for providing information and guidance about STEM initiatives, resources and projects, and about professional development and training opportunities. It also facilitates relationship-building with other schools, local universities, and STEM-related industries.
63% of teachers report that the SSAN advice and information has helped them to understand how STEM activities can enhance pupils’ learning.
65% state that it raises their awareness of opportunities that link to the curriculum.

3. Profile of STEM Ambassadors
More than 33,000 STEM Ambassadors
42% Female
60% under 35
12% BAME
More than 3,000 employers involved – range of multinationals to SMEs
Geographical clusters, range across S,T,E and M, different academic levels

4. STEM Ambassadors’ motivations
How effective is STEMNET for STEM Ambassadors?
We know that the opportunity for personal and professional development is a key motivator for STEM
Ambassadors to volunteer and the evaluation indicates that STEMNET is fulfilling this. STEM Ambassadors
report that their involvement with STEMNET has provided them with the opportunity to network with
other like minded people working in the STEM field.
 76% report increased personal satisfaction
 67% report increased confidence working with schools and young people
 48% of STEM Ambassadors report increased motivation and job satisfaction
 96% of STEM Ambassadors say that they would recommend the STEM Ambassadors Programme to
their friends/colleagues
“It definitely improved my ability to present to a different audience than I’m used to at work.”
(STEM Ambassador)

5. Engagement with Schools & Colleges
Engagement - organisations accessing STEM Ambassadors in last 12 months:
Over (94%) Secondary
Over 4,177 (20%) Primary/Middle Schools
Over 338 (61%) 16+
Over 60% secondary schools engaged 3 or more times over last year
CHs have key performance indicators/targets they need to achieve for the STEMNET contract and supports how they get paid. Many of these are aimed at secondary schools, however, STEM Ambassadors are available for all young people aged 5-19 and primary schools can request and should be supported by STEM Ambassadors, we just don't expect our CHs to proactively target primary schools or to achieve targets in order to receive their funding.
All requests for STEM Ambassadors from any school or youth group within the 5-19 age range will be offered as an opportunity by CHs for STEM Ambassadors to support.
Encouraging a more embedded approach to engaging with schools – pupils benefit the most from longer-term interventions rather than one-off visits, and STEMNET is actively addressing this

6. Support / training provided
Standard induction programme and training packages
Opportunities promoted to STEM Ambassadors and schools
DBS checks
Organisation-specific training using corporate resources
More opportunity for collaboration with SLPs
CHs have key performance indicators/targets they need to achieve for the STEMNET contract and supports how they get paid. Many of these are aimed at secondary schools, however, STEM Ambassadors are available for all young people aged 5-19 and primary schools can request and should be supported by STEM Ambassadors, we just don't expect our CHs to proactively target primary schools or to achieve targets in order to receive their funding.
All requests for STEM Ambassadors from any school or youth group within the 5-19 age range will be offered as an opportunity by CHs for STEM Ambassadors to support.
Encouraging a more embedded approach to engaging with schools – pupils benefit the most from longer-term interventions rather than one-off visits, and STEMNET is actively addressing this

7. What do STEM Ambassadors do?
Careers activities
in-school enrichment
in-school lesson support
Large scale events e.g. Big Bang
After School Clubs
Working with public centres e.g. museums, discovery centres
School Governors…..
To name a few!!
Guide for educators HERE

8. What do STEM Ambassadors do?
Career speed dating
Facilitate a simulation game
Judge a STEM competition
Mentor individual students
Demonstrate their work
Run an after school club
Give mock interviews
Lead a workshop
Form a Question Time panel

9. STEM Ambassadors talk about their experiences

10. IMPACT
87% of teachers report that STEM Ambassador activity helped pupils link classroom learning to real world applications
Pupils are 90% more likely to be interested in continuing to study STEM subjects after engaging with STEM Ambassadors
84% of teachers think that the STEM Ambassador activity improved pupils’ awareness of STEM careers
49% of pupils who have worked with STEM Ambassadors say they want to do a job that involves STEM, compared to 37% of all pupils
Encouraging more young people to pursue science careers - developing talented scientists
The impact of STEM Club membership on pupils extends to their plans for the future.
While 53% of pupils know what sort of job they would like to do, this figure stands at 72% for STEM Club members
37% of pupils say they want to do a job that involves STEM, compared to 61% of STEM Club members
Only 24% of pupils say that they know where to get more information on jobs in STEM, while the figure is 44% for their STEM Club counterparts.
Teachers corroborate these findings:
86% report an increase in pupils’ awareness of STEM subjects and real world applications
63% report increased pupil awareness of STEM career and employment options
Teachers report the positive impact of STEM Ambassador activity on their pupils:
87% report that the activity helped pupils link classroom learning to real applications
84% of teachers think that the activity improved pupils’ awareness of STEM careers

11. STEM activity builds employability skills
An independent report from the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) has found that STEM activities help to build the employability skills of young people.
92% of teachers reported that STEM activities helped to develop pupils’ problem-solving skills;
91% reported an impact on communication and social skills;
88% reported improved teamwork skills.
short-term STEM Ambassador activities help to increase pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the world of work.
Longer-term, project-based activities allowed pupils to work together in different roles, a range of employability skills emerged as pupils took more responsibility, challenged themselves and developed resilience – valuable preparation for further study and work.

12. - Biochemical Engineer and STEM Ambassador
IMPACT / EVIDENCE
“Meeting an engineer at my school was enough to make me realise it was the career I wanted to pursue. I want to do that for the next generation.“
Ranna Patel
- Biochemical Engineer and STEM Ambassador

13. Over to you…

14. Discussion (10 minutes)
Where collaboration with STEM Ambassador contract holders is happening, what is working well? What could be better?
How coold STEM Ambassadors be used differently to share their skills? Link this, where possible, to the Network activity.
What support do SLPs and STEM Ambassador Hubs need to make the STEM Ambassador programme reach even more young people?
Be prepared to feedback your discussions…