The Gender Gap in STEM
Girls consistently outperform boys in STEM subjects at GCSE level, yet they remain significantly underrepresented in STEM careers and higher education courses. In England, only 26% of those working in core STEM occupations are women. At A-level, girls make up less than a quarter of computing entries and fewer than a quarter of physics entries. The pattern starts early and the gap widens as students move through education.
Research consistently shows that interest in STEM subjects drops sharply for girls between the ages of 11 and 14. This is not a question of ability. It is a question of confidence, exposure, and whether girls can see themselves in STEM roles. Early, positive experiences with science and technology are one of the most effective ways to keep girls engaged and broaden their sense of what is possible.
Workshops That Engage Girls
Our workshops are designed with engagement at their core. Rather than competitive, individual tasks, we focus on collaborative, creative, and project-based activities where girls work together to solve real problems. Every workshop is hands-on, and every student leaves having built or created something tangible.
- Robotics: Girls work in pairs or small teams to build and program robots, developing computational thinking and engineering skills through collaborative problem-solving. There is no single correct solution, which encourages experimentation and removes the fear of getting it wrong.
- 3D Design and Printing: Students design their own 3D models and print them to take home. This workshop blends creativity with technical skills and gives every student a physical outcome they can be proud of.
- Coding and App Development: Girls learn to code by building something meaningful, whether that is a game, an animation, or a simple app. The focus is on creative expression through technology rather than abstract programming exercises.
- AI and Machine Learning: Students explore how artificial intelligence works and train their own machine learning models. This workshop connects directly to some of the fastest-growing career fields and shows girls the real-world impact of technology.
- Cybersecurity: Girls work through code-breaking challenges, learning about encryption, digital safety, and the critical role cybersecurity plays in protecting people and organisations. The puzzle-based format is highly engaging and collaborative.
- Stop-Motion Animation: Students plan, build, and film their own stop-motion animations, combining storytelling with digital technology. This workshop appeals strongly to creative learners who might not immediately see themselves in STEM.
Inspiring Role Models
Representation matters. When girls can see women succeeding in STEM, they are far more likely to believe those careers are open to them. Our instructors weave real stories of female scientists, engineers, and technologists into every workshop. From the work of Dame Sarah Gilbert in vaccine development to the contributions of female engineers at NASA and the pioneering achievements of women in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, girls hear about women who are shaping the world through STEM.
This is not a bolt-on activity. Role models are embedded naturally throughout the workshop, connected to the activities students are doing. When girls are building robots, they hear about female robotics engineers. When they are working on AI, they learn about the women leading research in that field. The message is consistent: women belong in STEM, and there are clear pathways to get there.
Building Confidence and Challenging Stereotypes
Many girls arrive at our workshops believing they are not "STEM people." This belief often comes not from a lack of ability but from a lack of exposure and from stereotypes they have absorbed over years. Our workshops are deliberately designed to challenge this. Every activity is scaffolded so girls experience early success, building confidence before moving on to more complex challenges.
By the end of a workshop, girls have built working robots, designed and printed 3D models, written code that does something real, or cracked ciphers that seemed impossible. These are tangible, visible achievements. They provide evidence that contradicts the "I am not a STEM person" narrative. Teachers consistently report that girls leave our workshops with a noticeably different attitude towards science and technology.
How to Book a Girls in STEM Workshop Day
Organising a girls-focused STEM workshop day is straightforward. Many schools book these for events such as International Women in Engineering Day, British Science Week, International Day of Women and Girls in Science, or as part of their careers programme.
- Get in touch: Contact us to tell us about your school, the year groups involved, and what you are looking for. There is no obligation at this stage.
- Choose your workshops: We will recommend the workshops that work best for your girls-focused event, based on age group, interests, and your goals for the day. We can run multiple different workshops across the day so girls get to experience a variety of STEM activities.
- Receive a tailored quote: We will send you a quote based on the number of sessions, group sizes, and workshops chosen. We offer competitive pricing and can work within school budgets.
- Prepare for the day: Once confirmed, we send a preparation guide covering room setup, timetabling, and what to expect. We bring all equipment, so your school does not need to provide any technology.
If you are not sure which workshops would suit your event best, we are happy to recommend options based on your students’ ages and the outcomes you want to achieve. Browse our full workshop range or get in touch to start planning your girls in STEM event.