#google #STEM #schools #siliconroundabout #ukmfg #engineering Internet giant Google has complained that too few students are taking computing, science, engineering and maths at A-level. According to last summer’s results, the numbers studying computing at A-level fell for the ninth year in a row, with just 3,800 candidates (0.4% of the total) choosing the subject.
While Google said that it was “extremely pleased” with the recent decision by the Department for Education to introduce a computer science GCSE, it added that there was still a great deal of work to be done.
The company believes that the take-up of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects is essential to the UK’s future.
Peter Barron, director of external relations, said: “It is surprising — and concerning — to see the stats showing that there has been a drop in the number of young people studying STEM subjects in the past few years.”
His comments came after Google hosted an Open Day for a new free school — the STEM Sixth Form Academy. This is due to open in September in the Old Street area of London, which is known as Silicon Roundabout because of the high number of technology companies operating there.
John O’Shea, principal designate of the academy, said: “A lot of young people want to study the STEM subjects, but they either don’t choose the right pathways or they are unable to take these subjects because their college or sixth form doesn’t provide them.”