Outdoor play isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s a public health and skills strategy. New research shows it boosts confidence, self-regulation and teamwork. Protect time and space for play, and pair national frameworks with local clubs—like RC car racing—to keep curiosity alive.

A-level and GCSE headlines hide a deeper issue: resits don’t equal readiness. We argue for targeted, applied maths—taught through real projects—aligned with EU STEM goals and the realities of AI-shaped work. Pair policy with community-based learning and you get what matters: confidence, progression and a pipeline that keeps pace with change.

Scotland has removed fees for CREST Awards, opening inquiry-led STEM projects to every young person aged 3–19. It’s a simple, inclusive change that boosts confidence, keeps curiosity alive, and links classroom learning with community-based practice.

UK A-level STEM entries are rising—good news for the pipeline. Set against EU 2030 goals and the pace of AI-driven change, the takeaway is clear: celebrate the uptick, but double down on progression, hands-on learning, and inclusive routes.

Youth Tech Fest grew from a child’s curiosity into a free, community-rooted STEM festival. By removing barriers and prioritising play, it demonstrates how hands-on events can ignite confidence, widen participation, and create real pathways into STEM.

The Department for Education’s expansion of its AI & Robotics Pilot to 50 more UK secondary schools underscores a commitment to immersive STEM learning. Paired with community‑based workshops like RC Vision’s RC car labs, it bridges classroom theory and real‑world skills.

Discover why community makerspaces and hands-on workshops are essential to modern STEM education, preparing students for real-world careers by cultivating creativity, collaboration, and resilience.

With women now occupying 16.9% of UK engineering roles, progress is clear—but barriers remain. Discover how targeted programmes and hands-on RC car workshops cultivate the confidence and skills needed to close the gender gap.

Driven by rising defence budgets and AI investments, the UK’s defence sector is rapidly expanding STEM career paths. Learn how this surge, combined with RC Vision’s motorsport-inspired mindset training, equips students with critical skills for high-stakes engineering roles.

“When students opt out of math and science in early adolescence, they may unknowingly lock themselves out of countless career opportunities,” says Judy Marks, CEO of Otis. Discover her insights on keeping curiosity alive and building inclusive STEM pathways.

A thought-provoking EdTech Europe opinion piece outlines a hypothetical “Lifting Lives” model—combining AI-powered tutoring, guaranteed devices and broadband, revitalised community hubs, and vocational pathways—to illustrate a blueprint for closing the STEM diversity gap.