Having recognised the importance of promoting STEM
studies in schools, a number of organisations specialised in
STEM education have joined forces to address the current
lack of pupils embarking on STEM studies and STEM careers
in a true multi-stakeholder approach. This joint commitment
gave birth to the STEM School Label project.
Within this project, supported by the Erasmus+ programme,
school representatives can evaluate their school’s
performance in STEM via an online self-assessment tool
according to a set of criteria defining a STEM School.
This self-assessment tool identifies required areas of
development and provides suggestions of resources for
applicant schools to improve their STEM activities at school
level. The purpose of this strategic partnership project is to
enable as many schools as possible to benefit from the STEM
School Label, by also engaging the support of Ministries of
Education.
This publication presents a collection of best practices which
were highlighted by the STEM School Label project from the
launch of the online platform in April 2019 up to July 2020.
The STEM School Label project developed a framework
where schools can evaluate their performance in STEM via
an online self-assessment tool, according to the set of criteria
defining a STEM School. This self-assessment tool helps
schools identify required areas of development and provides
suggestions of resources for applicant schools to improve
their STEM activities at school level.
This initiative responds to the fact that STEM education has
become a priority in European countries and strategies are
being developed to improve teaching and learning and the
uptake of studies and careers in STEM.
This report aims to show how the STEM School Label, since
its launch in April 2019 up to July 2020, has contributed to
highlight and further develop STEM strategies of schools at
European level.
During these 16 months of experience, 1,880 schools joined
the STEM School Label. 545 schools received the Competent
Label and seven reached the Proficient Label. As first
concrete results from the project, the schools joining the
initiative highlighted that the STEM School Label strongly
encourages collaborations between schools and with other
organisations. It also provides them with a framework to
develop their own STEM strategy at the school level and so
helps them improve their own practice. Finally, it has also
been shown by the numerous good examples of Case Studies
and School Practice Evidence submitted on the platform and
in the networking events that were organised, that the STEM
School Label encourages sharing experiences about STEM
education among schools.
