STEM careers are best aimed at boys than girls, survey finds

Nearly a third of male secondary school teachers believe that science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects are more for boys, Tes has reported.

According to research carried out by Atomik Research for Centrica, there is a gender divide among teachers and pupils in terms of careers in STEM.

Around 1,400 secondary teachers took part in the survey, as well as 1,063 pupils aged between 14 to 18.

It found that 29 per cent of male teachers believe that STEM careers are for boys, with 16 per cent of female teachers saying the same.

In addition, 29 per cent of female teachers say they are "not at all confident" in their understanding of STEM careers, compared to 15 per cent of male teachers.

Twenty-seven per cent of girls, among pupil participants, state that STEM careers are not the right choice for them, in comparison to 14 per cent of boys which said the same.

Forty-four per cent of pupils said that they could not think of any female role models in STEM.