In January 2022, Stemettes partnered with MI5, MI6 & GCHQ to provide Stemillions boxes containing interactive STEM activities. They were sent to ten schools and over 100 Stemettes aged 4 to 11 across the South East and North West of England.
Participants received a box full of interactive activities to promote STEM learning and ten hours’ worth of meal plans. The meal plans introduced them to STEM role models and their careers in STEM.
Week 2 of STEM club with @Stemettes We learnt all about Olivia and the way they use abstract thinking in their job at GCHQ! Here we are trying our hand at semaphore and sending messages over long distances! #STEM #stemillions pic.twitter.com/5sWNUDVflI
— Southern Road Primary (@SouthernRoadPri) February 8, 2022
What did participants think?
Teachers at participating schools provided feedback on what their students thought about the programme:
- 100% thought their network in STEM fields improved
- 88% thought their awareness of STEM career options improved
- 88% thought their confidence in their STEM abilities improved
- 88% thought their knowledge of STEM improved
Everyone who participated said they enjoyed the meal plans and would recommend the programme. Teachers thought the increase in pupils’ confidence and improvement in mental health were unexpected benefits of the programme.
Their favourite parts included seeing how excited the girls were to have a girls-only science club, and getting to know the inspiring women in industry.
“The positive effects on our girls has been incredible. They have become more confident not only in themselves and their leadership skills but also their abilities in all areas of STEM. The clubs has helped to stretch our gifted children and convince some more reluctant learners that STEM is very much for them and is something they would continue to aspire to in the future. We have also appreciated the diversity shown by the club’s choice of role models, and this has been noted by the children as well. I would like to extend the club out to other year groups so the girls there can benefit in the same way..” – Stemillions club teacher
Thank you to MI5, MI6 & GCHQ for partnering with Stemillions for the programme and to all the teachers who got involved with their Stemillions clubs.
