Criteria

What is a STEM School?Cover of the European STEM School Report

A STEM School is defined as a school with a clear STEM strategy, characterised by different key elements and criteria.

This definition is the result of the European STEM Schools Report which builds upon a vast literature review and a thorough consultation process with four groups of key stakeholders in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. Those key stakeholders are schools, STEM teachers, Ministries of Education and STEM Industries.

The report's criteria for "STEM Schools" identify key areas that can help schools advance and have a clearer strategy for STEM education. In particular, the key areas are related to instruction, curriculum, assessment, staff, school leadership, the school's social connections and the school's infrastructure.

Check out the full report (also available in Portuguese | French | Serbian | Lithuanian) or have a look at the Executive Report.

 

How can you develop a clear STEM strategy at the school level?

Here, at STEM School Label, we aim to help schools to address all criteria defining a STEM School. Thanks to the STEM School Label accreditation process, you can assess your school against a set of criteria to determine areas of strength and weakness as well as to highlight aspects that need further developments. The STEM School Label approach considers seven distinct areas in order to have an effective STEM strategy:

  1. Instruction,
  2. Curriculum implementation,
  3. Assessment,
  4. Professionalisation of staff,
  5. School leadership and culture,
  6. Connections, and
  7. School infrastructure.

Still some doubts about what these criteria correspond at the school level?

The final elements and criteria that a school’s STEM strategy needs to fulfil in order to be considered a STEM School are the following:

More information about the definition of each criterion under this link