I would like to begin by thanking Lord Oxburgh for inviting me here today, and by saying how pleased I am that he agreed to take on the chairmanship of the new SETNET during its critical formative years. I have been a supporter of SETNET for many years and I believe it has a crucial role in engaging young people in this country in science and engineering.
If we are to benefit fully from the major scientific advances taking place today, it is vitally important that all children especially girls, have an opportunity to pursue a career in science and technology, and that all children have an understanding of the excitement and importance of science, and the risks, benefits and values involved. This is a problem all countries have - not a reason for complacency but as providing an opportunity.
In the past we have had many excellent small-scale schemes which have inspired young people to think about a career in science and technology, but we have not been nearly as effective as we should have been. I think there are three reasons. Firstly, we have had a vast number of schemes and awards rather than concentrating on a few. As a result the administrative overheads, I suspect have been enormous. Secondly, the coverage of the country by the schemes had been patchy, thirdly, teachers have found the multiplicity of schemes and awards very confusing. We all need to work together to make our joint efforts more effective, and to make certain that teachers and pupils in every part of the country have access to the very best support materials and schemes.
That is why in the Science and Innovation White Paper last year the Government announced its intention of providing a single point of support for science teachers within each Learning and Skills Council area in England and through the appropriate structures elsewhere in the UK, and while at the same time we announced that we would be setting up a Science and Engineering Ambassadors Scheme.
Then in November last year, at the last ever SATRO Conference I announced a commitment of £6m of DTI funds over three years to strengthen the network that promotes Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths in schools. The aim is to make certain that every young person under 16 has the opportunity at least once in each key stage, or the equivalent, to participate in activities which encourage him or her to take up a career in science and engineering. The aim of all these initiatives is to create a resource of such excellence that the SoS at the DFES will actively and enthusiastically encourage schools to use it.
I am delighted at the progress that has been made over the last eighteen months. The SETPOINT Network has been extended dramatically and now stands at 53 across England, Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland; SETNET and SATRO has merged to form a formidable alliance to underpin the new structure, and the Science and Engineering Ambassadors Scheme is well on the way to becoming a reality. I believe that we now have in place a structure which is inclusive enough and strong enough to deliver our key objectives.
Mission for the Future
Now that we have got firm foundations in place, I would like to say a few words on what I believe our mission should be. I believe that what we are seeking to do is critically important for science teaching in this country, and that we have an historic opportunity to raise significantly the contribution that we make.
I believe that the key task you SETPOINTS have is to go out and establish good relationships with the teachers in your schools and then to provide them with an outstanding service which meet their needs. I want teachers to recognise you as a key source of information and support to help them deliver STEM subjects. I want those who run schemes, awards and competitions to recognise that, because of your relationship with schools they must work through you. And I want those who provide the resources for the schemes, awards and competitions to see you in the same light.
But this will only happen if you establish good relationships with teachers, and provide them with an outstanding service which meets their needs. It will only happen if you deliver what you have promised in your Business Plans and maintain the performance that has caused you to be designated as SETPOINTS, especially the willingness to co-operate with others to achieve our common objectives.
With more than 1,200 national schemes, awards and competitions in this area, we need to see some rationalisations of them. This will be an enormously difficult task to manage if we are not to lose enthusiasm, and will require tact and a great deal of co-operative work. But if we can achieve it we should be able to cut down on the heavy administration burden that all of those schemes involve, and get them to pay the true cost of getting their particular schemes into schools. SETPOINTS should be able to recover more of their costs from organisers. They, in turn, will expect to contract with you for a high level of performance.
A key task of SETNET in the future will be the delivery of the Science and Engineering Ambassadors Scheme, which we will be launching as part of Science Year in January next year, and I would also like to say a few words about what we hope to achieve with this initiative.
Experience shows that the best people to get across the excitement of a career in science and technology are young people who are working in science and technology and who can explain the relevance of the subjects studied at school to the world of work. Many individuals and organisations know this and are already active in working with schools. We plan to strengthen and extend these activities under the Science and Engineering Ambassadors banner, so that, over time, every school in the UK can have access to enthusiastic Ambassadors.
Young people will be able to talk to the Ambassadors about their work, their lives and ambitions, and will be able to find out at first hand what a career in science and technology could offer them personally.
We believe that all parties - schools, teachers, students, employers and the Ambassadors will benefit from this opportunity.
The message we are trying to convey to our young people is simple: a basic knowledge of science is essential to understanding the issues our society faces in the future, and studying science, technology and maths can lead to exciting, challenging and rewarding careers. And there can be no one better to convey this message than other young people who already have careers in science and technology, and can speak from first hand experience of the excitement and importance of science.
I believe that the project on which we are now embarking is a long-term one. We want to achieve a step change in the delivery of science teaching in schools and in the attitude of young people towards careers in science and technology, and that will take more than three years and probably more than five. But we need to show within the three-year financial commitment we have made to support SETNET and the Science and Engineering Ambassadors Scheme that we are proceeding on the right lines. I don't for a moment suggest that the tasks we have set you will be easy ones, but if you can achieve them, if you can provide teachers with a truly excellent service which meets their needs, then I am sure that you will have made a real contribution to the economic and social well being of this country.
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