School report - the STEM teacher perspective

School report

Welcome to the School report series, where we delve into the insights and findings from our research on STEM education in the UK. Through this series we aim to provide valuable information to educators, policymakers, and stakeholders to improve STEM education and career pathways for young people.

What is the School report series?

The School report series is a collection of  research reports that explore various aspects of STEM education in the UK. These reports are based on our survey of 800 UK STEM teachers. The goal is to understand the challenges and opportunities in STEM education and to provide actionable recommendations.

What do teachers know and think about routes into engineering and technology?

Published in March 2025, this report explores teachers' knowledge and perceptions of the different educational routes into engineering and technology. It covers vocational, technical, and academic pathways, including T Levels, BTECs, and apprenticeships. 
Key findings include:

• Awareness of routes: 83% of teachers know which subjects students need for engineering and technology careers
• Recommendations: teachers are evenly split when it comes to recommending university (36%) or an apprenticeship (36%) for a career in engineering and technology
• Confidence: 53% of teachers feel confident advising students on vocational or technical pathways

Discover what teachers think about career pathways

How do teachers engage with STEM outreach?

Published in February 2025, this report examines how teachers find and engage with STEM outreach activities. It highlights the importance of these activities in providing students with hands-on STEM experiences. 
Key findings include:

• Engagement: 80% of STEM teachers indicated their school participated in STEM outreach in the last academic year
• Barriers: Funding (52%) and time (49%) are major barriers to providing STEM engagement activities
• Sources: Teachers find STEM outreach activities online (65%) and through professional networks (51%)

Discover how teachers engage with outreach

What's next in the School report series?

We are excited to announce 2 new reports coming soon on the following topics:

• Barriers to practical science 
  This report explores the challenges faced by science teachers in delivering hands-on practical lessons. It highlights the decline in practical science activities and identifies key barriers faced by STEM teachers in the UK.
• Teacher recruitment and retention in STEM
  This report explores the challenges of recruiting and retaining STEM teachers in the UK. It will provide insights into the factors influencing teacher retention and offer recommendations to improve recruitment and retention strategies.

How can I read the School report series?

All EngineeringUK research is available free of charge. You can browse all our research, filtering by area of interest. Follow us on socials or subscribe to our newsletter to be among the first to know when the latest briefings in the series are published.

Browse our research