ASE 2027 Annual Conference

This session will begin with an introduction to the Operation Spitfire 4 Schools project as a case study of place-based learning. The curriculum aims to increase engagement with STEM careers and increase civic pride within Stoke-On-Trent and Staffordshire. Each lesson is linked to a career in the past within Stoke-On-Trent and Staffordshire and a career opportunity that exists now within Stoke-On-Trent and Staffordshire.

The government white papers: Every Child Achieving and Thriving and the Post 16 Education and Skills reforms focus heavily on streamlining careers pathways. The work of the Futures Forum in Stoke-On-Trent will be shared with participants which streamlines careers into distinct careers pathways. WMBACC - myFUTURE | Supporting Skills, Careers & Progression . Participants will have time to consider the careers pathways available in their local area.

Participants will be given time to research a STEM career in the past and the future in their local area using the Neon Futures resource from Engineering UK and to reflect on how these might be linked to a lesson in their science curriculum.

Reflection and Questions. Participants will share how they have mapped a career in the past and the future to a lesson in their science curriculum.

Participants will have a framework that they will be able to use to map local STEM careers in their local area from both the past and the future to their existing STEM curriculum. They will have an example of a STEM career from the past and the future in their local area to share with their colleagues that maps to a lesson they teach.

Background: We know that the UK is facing a shortfall of over 173,000 engineering and technology workers, costing the economy around £1.5 billion each year. As demand rises in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and defence, these shortages in engineering and design risk undermining critical infrastructure and the UK’s global competitiveness. Locally, Staffordshire faces a pressing need for 2,600 new skilled engineers every year for the next decade, to support both replacement needs and economic growth in priority sectors such as advanced manufacturing. Yet, the STEM pipeline is challenged by low interest and awareness - particularly among girls, young people from under-resourced (lower socio-economic) communities, and those from minoritised communities. Operation Spitfire 4 Schools was set up to directly address these challenges. Through a curriculum rooted in local heritage but designed to inspire future opportunity, OS4S provides early-stage engagement at KS2 and KS3, precisely the stage identified in Louise Archer's 2026 ASE key note speech as critical to challenging stereotypes and broadening aspirations.