Enriching student lives through STEM Clubs

By Jo Mitchell

Enrichment activities, such as STEM Clubs, are out-of-timetable activities that broaden the curriculum. Held during lunchtime or after school, STEM Clubs allow students to explore STEM in an informal setting. Regular sessions provide a space for students and teachers alike to explore and expand their knowledge freely. By encouraging students to build their confidence and skill sets, they are comfortable applying their extracurricular learning inside the classroom.

“I can see how students increase in confidence at these sessions. Students who can be quiet in class can talk about the experiments with peers, be more actively involved in group work and speak with adults in a more informal manner.” ?- Kirkbie Kendal School, STEM Club Leader

STEM Club activities enable students to feel a sense of achievement and learn to cope with setbacks. Not every activity will be a success. When students are provided with a no-pressure environment, they can develop their creativity and critical thinking skills. With the support of educators and peers, students develop the art of communication and collaboration.

A regular STEM Club impacts students to learn transferable skills, widen STEM knowledge and raise aspirations. On average, a club will meet for 30 minutes a week. That means that for two hours a month, young people are developing skills that will last a lifetime. Of course, the biggest obstacle is finding the time to commit to a club. Not every school can offer 30 minutes a week, every week. Even if a school offers just one hour a month of enrichment activities, students are equipped with skills and attitudes that will prepare them for life beyond school.?

“The club is usually open to Y7s and Y8s and runs over lunchtimes. We have been running a STEM Club since I started in 2014.

This is the reason I do what I do. Pupils of 11 or 12 years of age are working scientifically through the trials and tribulations of practical research and writing their reports to the point where they are presenting their work to judges at competitions or conferences. They embrace the challenge and grow in confidence as a result of their STEM projects.” - Corbridge Middle School Club Leader

Engaging and supportive extracurricular activities make a valuable contribution to school life. Students who may not usually collaborate have the chance to work together and broaden their skills. This is especially true when a club engages with challenging competitions such as GreenPower, TeenTech, F1 in Schools, and more. Whether engaging in local, regional, or national competitions and challenges, a STEM club provides a learning curve for students, offering opportunities for everyone’s skills and interests to be recognised.

“STEM Club has been a highly influential part of my school life; it has given me so many opportunities and chances to broaden my horizons and aspirations. The experiences have given me more confidence and have also tied in with my curricular subjects to further help with my studies.

I know that STEM will benefit me greatly in later life and I consider myself extremely lucky to have been given the opportunities at school to access STEM projects and activities. The skills learned through STEM Club are truly priceless and I believe everyone should be able to benefit and learn from STEM projects.” - Amy, alumni student, Millom School and Sixth Form College

Frequent enrichment activities increase student engagement. Recently, Ashcroft Academy has seen an “increase in the number of students selecting STEM subjects for GCSE and A ’level / IB preferences”, resulting in a larger number of students pursuing STEM subjects further by successfully gaining admission to Russell Group Universities.

“By using STEM activities to encourage learning, the number of GCSE passes in science, maths and other subjects has improved significantly. The school’s OFSTED score has improved considerably, and the STEM club has helped greatly to achieve this.” Coundon Court Academy, STEM Club Leader

Find all the support you need to develop your STEM Club's impact and maximise the long-term benefits through the STEM Club Programme.