Framing principle

This badge acknowledges schools that have made exceptional achievements in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, fostering deep subject knowledge, cross-disciplinary problem-solving skills, and ethical STEM practice. It celebrates innovation, academic excellence relative to context, and efforts to expand access and equity in STEM for all learners.

Criteria For Earning This Badge These criteria are based on a report on the evidence around STEM education commissioned by the European Union, and we are indebted to the authors for their frameworks and analysis.

To earn this badge, schools much provide evidence that they have excelled in the following criteria:

1. Academic excellence

The school can demonstrate that it excels in the teaching of one or more subjects across the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, by giving students the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to succeed. In particular, the school must show that its students have exceptional academic achievements for their socio-economic context.

·      The school excels in building students’ knowledge of the fundamental principles of STEM subjects, such as the scientific method, core technological and engineering approaches, and mathematical concepts.

·      The school excels in teaching students the skills they need for STEM subjects, including how to identify and solve complex, authentic problems in the real world. This may include, for example, the use of inquiry-based and experiential learning methods.

·      The school excels in teaching students responsible and ethical attitudes to STEM, including the importance of empirical evidence and the scientific method, as well as how to think about the societal and environmental impact of their work.

2. 21^st Century and Multi-disciplinary Skills

The school can demonstrate that its STEM education programme is preparing students for modern society, including by teaching students to use multi-disciplinary STEM skills.

·      The school’s curriculum and/or teaching strategies purposefully include the development of “21^st Century” or “transversal skills” that will help students to adapt to rapid societal and technological changes. These skills may include, for example, critical thinking, problem-solving and interpersonal skills.

·      The school can demonstrate that it has an integrated approach to STEM education, which allows students to draw on the skills, knowledge and attitudes they’ve learned from multiple disciplines (“multi-disciplinary skills”) to solve complex, real-world problems. These might include, for example, using cross-cutting skills such as quantitative reasoning and the scientific method. It might also include presenting students with design challenges that require them to use their creativity and knowledge across different disciplines to solve problems.

3. Improving access and equity in STEM subjects

The school can demonstrate that it has worked purposefully to address systemic disparities in access and equity in STEM education, for example by increasing the number of girls and minority students studying STEM subjects.

·      The school has purposefully worked to identify and address disparities in students’ access to STEM subjects, such as through community outreach programmes.

·      The school has expanded students’ access to effective STEM teachers and leaders, such as through mentoring programmes, scholarships, after-school clubs and securing internships for outstanding students.