STEM Enhancement and enrichment

STEM enhancement and enrichment activities in science: Case studies

These case studies demonstrate how schools have applied the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) enhancement and enrichment in science to give greater depth to the curriculum.

• Overview of case studies showing good practice in Key Stages 3 and 4

  Find an overview of the case studies in this section, showing enhancement and enrichment activities in secondary schools – used to broaden the opportunities provided for pupils. This overview is part of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) enhancement and enrichment activities in science: Case studies.

• Provision of careers education in science

  This case study describes how one school held a careers day to enhance and enrich the learning of science for their Key Stage 4 pupils, motivating them before their science GCSE and providing them with a fuller understanding of the variety of careers available to them.

  • What was planned?

  • What was done, when and how?

  • Impact

  • Lessons learned and next steps

• Collaborating with higher education

  This case study describes how a joint school‒university team provided Year 11 students with a range of unfamiliar scientific activities to explore. The aim was to enhance and enrich their learning of science, raising awareness of career possibilities and demonstrating some of the fun applications of science.

  • What was planned?

  • What was done, when and how?

  • Impact

  • Lessons learned and next steps

• 'Speed dating' with STEM ambassadors in science lessons

  This case study describes how two schools in North Yorkshire worked with the local STEMNET contract holder to run question-and-answer sessions, organised in the same way as speed dating, so that pupils in one year group could enhance their knowledge of careers underpinned by science.

  • What was planned?

  • What was done, when and how?

  • Impact

  • Lessons learned and next steps

• Taking part in National Science and Engineering Week

  This case study describes how one science department raised the profile of science by running a selection of events and dressing up as science-related objects and people during National Science and Engineering Week.

  • What was planned?

  • What was done, when and how?

  • Impact

  • Lessons learned and next steps

• Widening horizons and broadening the curriculum for gifted and talented pupils

  This case study describes how one specialist science college started a project to encourage gifted and talented pupils in Year 8 to set their sights high and give serious consideration to triple science and modern foreign languages GCSE courses.

  • What was planned?

  • What was done, when and how?

  • Impact

  • Lessons learned and next steps

  • Appendix

• Tea plantations in Cornwall: A scientific investigation

  This case study describes how one college encouraged students to undertake an investigation to discover the best location for growing tea commercially in Cornwall, making recommendations and presenting their findings at the International Student Science Fair 2008 in Japan. The aim was to enhance their learning of science.

  • What was planned?

  • What was done, when and how?

  • Impact

  • Lessons learned and next steps

• Working with civil engineering ambassadors

  This case study describes how a series of enhancement and enrichment activities for schools was devised by a range of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) ambassadors. The study reports on how the activities were carried out with Key Stage 4 pupils at one school and the results.

  • What was planned?

  • What was done, and how?

  • Impact

  • Lessons learned and next steps