STEM

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”
Albert Einstein

 Stem picture3

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) curriculum at Kings Langley School:

  • STEM pervades every aspect of our lives.
  • STEM education creates critical thinkers and enables the next generation of innovators. Innovation leads to new products and processes that sustain our economy. STEM subjects have transferable skills to aid all subjects.
  • STEM education provides students with a range of possible future outcomes.

STEM Qualifications:

  • Lead to a wide range of opportunities at different levels and are valuable for both STEM and non-STEM jobs.
  • Can help to address key global challenges such as climate change.
  • Are valued by employers – 40% of businesses prefer STEM degrees when recruiting graduates.
  • STEM courses and careers are open to all and can help raise aspirations.
  • STEM helps develops enterprise and employability skills – analytical capabilities, problem solving and creativity.
  • Many STEM jobs need creativity and design skills in combination with mathematical and scientific abilities.
  • Good salaries are available and locations for work are really varied, often not just a desk or a laboratory.
  • STEM occupations are growing at 17%, while other occupations are growing at 9.8%.
  • STEM degree holders have a higher income even in non-STEM careers.
  • STEM workers play a key role in the sustained growth and stability of the economy.
  • There is currently a STEM shortage in the workforce globally.

On our careers portal, you can visit our STEM page which has information regarding a wide range of STEM occupations and careers.

Kings Langley School Careers Portal 

STEM Magazine - Summer 2022

STEM Magazine - Autumn 2022

STEM activities outside of the classroom:

  • STEM leaders.
  • STEM stimulator magazine termly.
  • STEM weekly challenge school bulletin.
  • STEM KLS competitions.
  • STEM fortnight one each term.
  • STEM fundraising.
  • STEM clubs.
  • STEM careers posters.
  • STEM challenge and awards evening.
  • STEM trips - Shell - make the Future Event and The Big Bang.
  • STEM industry linked activities and competitions. MBDA - Affinity water project, AV Craft Reconnaissance Challenges, Imagination technology activities, Lego robot activities, EDT digital explorers and industrial cadets.
  • Crest awards.
  • STEM Rotary competitions, Young Chef of the year.
  • BIG BANG competition.
  • Careers links - visiting speakers from STEM industries.
  • STEM assemblies.
  • EDT routes into STEM holiday courses.
  • YINI - Year in Industry. Ten to twelve month industrial placement, to gain STEM industry experience prior to starting a university course or to help decide on your future direction (Higher/degree apprenticeship/work or during uni). This is a fully paid placement; some companies will sponsor a student through university as part of their graduate recruitment.
  • Routes into STEM - A three day holiday programme for students in Years 9 and 10. This gives an opportunity to gain information and experience of STEM at university, college and apprenticeship routes. These are usually heavily subsidised for our students by the Uni of Herts as we are a Beacon school. (Currently £35 as opposed to £140).
  • Headstart - A four/five day residential STEM subject taster programme for Year 12 students. This takes place at selected universities around the country. There is a cost to students, but bursaries are available.
  • Inspire - A three day residential STEM subject taster programme for year 10 & 11 students. This takes place at selected universities around the country. There is a cost to students with bursaries available.
  • First Edition - STEM Challenge. For students in KS3 & KS4.
  • In addition, we do often have invites for students to attend various STEM company information/open day events.

Staff:

Miss C Scanlan - Learning Area Leader for Technology

Mrs J Wright - Information Advice and Guidance Administrator

Mrs R Jennings - SLT STEM lead

Mr L McGuigan - English STEM lead

Mrs N Ndlovu - Maths STEM lead

Miss N Headley - Science STEM lead

Ms M Chabrel - Geography STEM lead

Miss K Donovan - PE STEM lead

Miss F Sargeson - Music STEM lead

Mrs F O'Hanlon - Psychology/Sociology STEM lead

Mr M Moyo - PSHE STEM lead

Ms L Abbott - Drama STEM lead

Mr K Ali - Computer Science STEM lead

Mr B Ellis - Business Studies STEM lead

Mrs S Arnold - Art and Photography STEM lead

Mrs S Shah - PRE STEM lead

Ms C Hardingham - History STEM lead

Mr P Burgin - MFL STEM lead

Curriculum Intent

The aims of STEM at KLS are to:

  • Stimulate interest and enthusiasm for STEM subjects.
  • Encourage students to make the links between STEM subjects and the STEM links in non-STEM subjects and use the transferable skills into their other subjects to aid their learning.
  • Encourage all students to value the importance of learning in STEM.
  • Every student to achieve their full potential.
  • Developing confidence and the strength of character to enable them to Share their experience of STEM with others.
  • Encourage students to have fun experimenting and enjoy learning through their mistakes and journey.
  • To increase the take up of STEM A level subjects.

Key stage 3

All students study Science, Technology and Maths.

Key stage 4

All students study Maths. Students can select options in Science (single or triple Sciences), Technology - Food or DT (Textiles, Graphics and Resistant Materials combined course).

Key stage 5

Students can take A level options in Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), Technology (Product Design or Fashion and Textiles), Maths and Further Maths.

Useful Website Links:

School Extra-Curricular Clubs

  • STEM club - Technology.
  • STEM Science club - Robotics.
  • LEGO Education Spike and Mindstorms sets - Students get to undertake creative projects and get to build imaginative models that can then be brought to life by coding. The process allows students to think like an engineer i.e. design, create, problem solve, and evaluate. These are essential STEM skills and help develop the innovative minds of tomorrow, while having fun.
  • Maths challenge - This is a national competition open to top set students in years 7 to 13. There are age categories comprising of the junior, intermediate and senior challenges.
  • Royal Institution masterclasses - These ‘hands-on’ interactive sessions are led by experts from academia and industry. Each year a handful of students are invited from Year 9 to take part.

Reading:

The link below gives several suggestions for useful books to read.

Reading suggestions

STEM Learning Journey

School events:

  • STEM fortnight - Term 1
  • STEM In action fortnight - Term 2
  • STEM Independence Fortnight -Term 3
  • STEM Fair - July
  • Rotary Young Chef of the year competition year 10 - November
  • Junior Maths Challenge (Yr 7 and 8 top sets) - June
  • Intermediate Maths Challenge (Yr 9, 10, 11 top sets) - February
  • Senior Maths Challenge (Sixth form) - November

Newsletter

April 2023

Places to Visit:

To further your knowledge please click on the link below.

Examples of places to visit

For further information about STEM please contact: - Miss Carmela Scanlan STEM Coordinator and Learning Area Leader for Design and Technology. Email:  scanlanc@kls.herts.sch.uk