Subject Choice in STEM: Factors influencing young people (aged 14-19) in education

This review specifically addressed the question: 'What factors influence the STEM subject choices of young people (aged 14-19) in education in the UK?' The Trust commissioned the Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating Centre (EPPI-Centre) to undertake a systematic review to examine why young people make the subject choices they do.

The findings of this work illustrate the urgent need to build a reliable evidence base that better informs why young people make the subject choices they do. Building capacity in this area is essential as robust research evidence is important not only to ensure that the right skills are available to support the future economic wellbeing of the country, but also to better advise the young people themselves. The review will feed into the Wellcome Trust's own education programme and contribute to discussion and initiatives, including further research, in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education community more broadly.

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