Show your students that engineering is for everyone

Engineering and technology is for everyone! We know that. You know that. But do your students? This collection of free, quality-assured activities helps secondary students explore engineering and technology careers over 2 terms. It's designed for all students, with a particular focus on helping girls see the opportunities available to them.

Research shows that girls are more likely than boys to stop studying STEM subjects as they move through education, despite often achieving higher results. They're also less likely to feel that a career in engineering is for them.

The good news is that this can change. Meeting relatable role models and taking part in engaging engineering activities can help broaden students' views of who engineers are and what they do.

All the experiences in this collection are free and quality assured, making it easy to bring inspiring careers learning into the classroom.

How do I use this collection?

Follow these 6 simple steps to focus on challenging your student's perceptions of who a career in engineering is for. You will find links to the experiences and resources in the tabs below.

First term

1. kick off with the real job stories of women engineers below. Divide your students into small groups and have them discuss one of the case studies and reflect on:

   • what motivated her to pursue a career in engineering?

   • what specific engineering solutions did she develop or contribute to in the case study?

   • how did her work impact the project and the broader community?

   • how does her story inspire you in your own educational and career aspirations?

   • what qualities or skills do you admire in her that you would like to develop in yourself?

   • how has her story influenced your thoughts about pursuing a career in engineering?

2. engage girls in Girls into STEM. These events aims to encourage female students to take an active interest in STEM subjects prior to their GCSEs. Visits are arranged for groups of 8 to 45 students to a company or university department

3. explore Enspire City. Featuring a futuristic city, it will give your students information about inspirational careers, education pathways and work sectors that help them to choose a career in STEM

Second term

1. download and share or order free copies of our 10 Great reasons to become an engineer, Green engineering and This is Engineering posters

2. take part in one of the I'm a Scientist, Get me out of here activities. The activity introduces students to science professionals with whom they share personal interests and opinions. Students make connections between science and their own lives. This helps them see that science, and by extension, a science-related career, could be for ‘someone like me’

3. take part in CREST Discovery. A fun introduction to STEM project work! Developed by the British Science Association, students complete either a single activity or a series of linked challenges with clear real-world contexts