insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 13 - March 2016 | Page 80

EDUCATION WHY MORE GIRLS (AND BOYS) SHOULD STUDY STEM SUBJECTS ANTONIA BEARY, HEADMISTRESS AT MAYFIELD SCHOOL IN EAST SUSSEX, SHARES HER ADVICE ON THE WAYS IN WHICH SCHOOLS CAN ENCOURAGE GIRLS TO STUDY SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) SUBJECTS. Recent statistics reveal a widening divide between the subjects chosen at A Level and beyond by girls and boys. While girls are dominating the health sciences like psychology and biology, boys are outnumbering girls by as many as eight to one in subjects like engineering, maths and computer science. But, why is this? And how can the issue be addressed? There is no quick fix to this issue, but there are many things that schools can do to instigate change. It is not only society’s preconceived ideas about science which must be challenged, it is the limits that pupils, particularly girls, are placing on themselves that need to be lifted too. Capture their interest “Girls and boys learn in different ways, so in a learning environment it makes sense to give each what they need at each varying stage of development. Girls from single-sex schools like Mayfield are far more likely to opt to study STEM subjects than their peers at co-educational schools. Free from gender stereotyping, our girls enjoy not just equal opportunities, but all of the opportunities available. Not only that, as specialists in girls’ education, we have the expertise to adapt our teaching methods in ways that inspire and capture the girls’ interest. We find more relevant ways to present scientific principles, and relate what is taught in the classroom to everyday life.” “Pastoral care is crucial, and this is an area where single-sex schools like Mayfield shine. Individual, focused pastoral care allows girls to develop a positive image of themselves during those turbulent adolescent years, when they are particularly vulnerable to self-doubt. The right school environment can foster self-belief, developing each girl's confidence in her capabilities, and enabling her to make informed and considered career choices.” Encourage creativity “It is a myth that the sciences and the arts are mutually exclusive. To be successful as a scientist you need to be creative, and to be a successful artist, you have to have the discipline, logic and focus that is usually associated with the scientific. Schools must encourage their pupils to be creative in all that they do. Rather than be influenced by gender stereotypes, they should be encouraged to be themselves, and to be the best that they can be. Consequently, the next generation of girls will grow into mature, independent, confident and well-informed individuals, ready to make their mark on the world.” Educate them about their options “Qualifications in the sciences can lead to careers in all sorts of industries: there are plenty more options than just medicine, or laboratory research. We make sure our girls are aware that science degrees can open doors to all sorts of industries, from food production to journalism.” Provide inspirational female role models “We invite speakers to talk to our pupils. High flying surgeons and researchers can be very inspiring, but of equal value are former pupils who have recently graduated or embarked upon a career in science. Our pupils can relate to and be inspired by young, female role models, and can then recognise a clear career path, making a sometimes remote goal seem more accessible.” www.mayfieldgirls.org 01435 874642   [email protected] Instil confidence in their abilities “We aim to develop within each of our pupils the confidence to succeed in life, not just in science. We expect girls to be prepared to cope with failure as well as success, and we encourage them to challenge themselves in extra-curricular activities, giving them the confidence to take risks inside the classroom. 80