Moving Up, Moving OnSTEM Disability Transition Group Conference12th July 2013, Institute of Physics

Objectives

• to compare students at school and college and to consider

their responses to a questionnaire on STEM careers

• To discuss how information, advice and guidance can be

improved so that students make informed choices

• To discuss how students can be supported in making

choices and at the start of their university studies

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School &College WorkshopThe workshop will examine the results of a survey carried out with pre-university students from Charters School and Brooklands College. Students were asked a range of questions about courses and careers in STEM subjects and the responses reveal some interesting similarities and differences.

Charters School

• 1685 learners and 470 in the 6th form• 3.4% have statements • 23.8% have Special Educational Needs• 5.8% use English as second language• School operates as a Resource Unit for learners with physical disabilities

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Brooklands College

• GFE College, mainly vocational provision from entry level to degree

• Just under 7500 learners in 2012/13 • 4700 of which are 16-18 year olds and 3477 are studying

levels 1-3 (900 ‘A’ level learners)• 400 14-16 year olds remainder are 19+• 2099 learners with LLDD;

16 – 18 year olds 1697

19+ - 402

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Students with a range of disabilities and learning difficulties responded to the survey

The percentage of students who have considered a career in STEM subjects

Students obtain careers advice from a range of sources

Students seek advice at different points in their education

And rate the advice

Is a specific need a barrier to a career in STEM?

Wellcome Trust Monitor May 2013

460 respondents on young people’s survey

http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/stellent/groups/corporatesite/@msh_grants/documents/web_document/wtp052591.pdf

Common themes

Most young people (63%) said they knew little or nothing about careers in science and very few (4%) knew a great deal.

Young people said they received careers advice from various sources outside school, with family (67%) the most common and the most useful (37%).

82% of young peoplesaid they thought sciencewas a good area ofemployment.

41% of young people said theywere personally interested in afuture career in science, withno difference betweengenders. However, morespecific career interests werehighly gender-stereotyped.

Discussion points:

If only the University I really want to go to would have more contact with my school

I wonder what kind of help I’ll get from the University

My mum says that I should do a Science course but I really want to be a designer, should I listen to her?

I am worried about telling them about my needs……how much should I tell them?