Pupils received their grades yesterday (22 August), with results returning to pre-pandemic levels.
Lydia Amarquaye, education and skills policy lead at IMechE, congratulated pupils on behalf of the institution. “It is encouraging that maths and sciences, subjects that form the foundation for careers within engineering, are still amongst the top performing subjects,” she said.
“It is also encouraging that design and technology has also seen an improvement, though we know that there is work to be done in ensuring the success of the subject in future. We continue to support initiatives championed by the Design & Technology Association in ensuring the subject shows relevance to jobs available to those interested in engineering and technology.”
The 2% increase in D&T entries was a smaller increase than overall entries, according to education and careers-focused EngineeringUK. A longer-term decline in uptake has seen entries halve from 185,279 in 2016 to 88,607 in 2024.
“We know that students are motivated by opportunities for practical science, but that these opportunities have almost halved since 2016. D&T provides students with contextualised, hands-on learning opportunities and is an important subject for future STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) careers,” said head of research Becca Gooch.
“There’s more to be done to ensure more students from all backgrounds take computing, D&T and other STEM subjects at the greater levels required if the UK’s need for a skilled workforce to meet net zero targets is to be met.”
An uptick in pupils receiving GCSEs in computer science is “great news”, she said. Entries to computing were up by 5.8% (compared to overall growth in entries of 4.8%), driven by an increase of 10.3% in the number of girls taking the subject.
Young people need “sound careers advice” to know the options available to them, including A-levels, T-levels and vocational qualifications, Amarquaye said. “We are excited to engage with the government in the upcoming curriculum review to provide evidence in ensuring that engineering capital can be built in the classroom, alongside the outreach opportunities available through IMechE STEM ambassadors and partners.”
Engineering GCSE entries increased from 2,746 last year to 3,018 this year, according to the Institution of Engineering and Technology. Head of education David Lakin said: “We know that the appetite for studying and working in science, technology, engineering and maths is there, so we need to make sure young people now know how these subjects apply to their future ambitions, what roles in the STEM sector are available and what routes they can take to get there.
“A broad and balanced education for all young people is fundamental to the formation of future engineers, ensuring they have a rounded knowledge and the skills required for engineering a better world for us all.
“We need engineering to be recognised more widely within primary and secondary education. The country needs more people studying engineering subjects at university and taking up apprenticeships, and that must start with uptake at GCSE level.”
Dr Laura Norton, IET head of equality, diversity and inclusion, and WISE managing director, added: “More males are studying science, with significant gaps in construction, engineering, computing, and design and technology.
“This shows that there is still so much to be done to tackle the gender gap in STEM. We must inspire the next generation of women engineers, and this starts from a very young age. We need to be telling primary school children about the opportunities and range of careers within engineering and technology – so that they know that there is a place for them in the sector.
“Visibility and representation matters, so we need to be providing real-life role models for the younger generation to look up to and to tell them first-hand about their experiences and how to get into the sector. Both the IET and WISE are working to highlight role models in the sector via the IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards and WISE’s My Skills My Life platform – both showcasing the breadth and depth of people and roles in the sectors.”
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