In-House STEM Days vs Booking an External Provider
Running your own enrichment day sounds cheaper. But when you factor in teacher time, equipment costs, and the risk of things going wrong, the picture changes.
What Does Running Your Own STEM Day Involve?
A DIY STEM day means your teaching staff plan and deliver enrichment activities using school resources or newly purchased equipment. Someone needs to choose the activities, source the equipment, write risk assessments, create lesson plans, and deliver the sessions.
Some schools do this well, particularly those with a confident computing lead or a D&T specialist on staff. But most primary schools do not have a dedicated STEM coordinator, and the workload often falls on one already-busy teacher.
The intention is good: save money and build internal capacity. The reality is that it takes significantly more time, money, and expertise than most schools expect.
At a Glance
Side-by-Side Comparison
What it takes to run a STEM day yourself versus booking an external provider.
DIY In-House
- Planning timeWeeks of preparation by teaching staff
- Equipment cost£500 to £3,000+ for basic kit (robots, laptops, etc.)
- Staff expertiseRequires confident, trained computing/D&T teacher
- Technical failure riskHigh, especially with new or unfamiliar equipment
- Delivery consistencyVariable, depends on individual teacher confidence
- Cost per eventHidden in teacher time and equipment depreciation
- SafeguardingAlready in place (internal staff)
- Curriculum mappingMust be done by your team
External Provider
- Planning timeBook a date. We handle everything else.
- Equipment costIncluded. Professional-grade robots, drones, 3D printers.
- Staff expertiseDBS-checked specialist instructor provided
- Technical failure riskLow. We maintain and test all equipment.
- Delivery consistencyAssured. Same quality every visit.
- Cost per eventFrom £597 per day, all-inclusive
- SafeguardingDBS-checked, insured, risk-assessed
- Curriculum mappingProvided, aligned to National Curriculum
The True Cost of a DIY STEM Day
The obvious costs are equipment and materials. But the bigger cost is time:
- Teacher planning time: 20 to 40 hours at your school’s effective hourly rate
- Equipment research and procurement: comparing products, placing orders, chasing deliveries
- Risk assessment writing: required for any new activity or equipment
- Staff training: learning to use unfamiliar technology before teaching it
- Equipment maintenance: charging, updating firmware, replacing broken parts
- Day-of troubleshooting: when the robots will not connect or the software needs updating
A conservative estimate puts the true cost of a DIY STEM day at £800 to £1,500 when teacher time is valued properly. A provider charges from £597 and you do not lose a single hour of teaching time to preparation.
The Equipment Reality Check
Professional STEM equipment is expensive. A class set of 15 LEGO Spike Prime kits costs over £3,000. Fifteen Tello EDU drones cost around £2,000. A set of micro:bits with accessories is £500 to £800. 3D printers suitable for school use start at £300 each.
Equipment also needs maintenance. Batteries degrade, parts break, firmware needs updating, and software licences expire. Schools that invested in robotics kits three years ago often find them gathering dust because nobody has time to keep them working.
An external provider arrives with fully maintained, up-to-date equipment every time. When something breaks, it is their problem, not yours.
Teacher Workload: The Invisible Cost
The DfE workload reduction guidance is clear: schools should not ask teachers to create materials that already exist elsewhere. Running a DIY STEM day creates exactly that burden. Lesson plans, risk assessments, equipment guides, and activity instructions all need writing from scratch.
The teacher who takes on a STEM day is usually the computing lead, and they are already managing a full timetable, subject leadership responsibilities, and their own PPA time. Adding 20 to 40 hours of enrichment planning on top of existing workload is not a fair ask.
Booking a provider means your staff can focus on what they do best: teaching. The provider handles the specialist content, equipment, and logistics.
Which Provides Stronger Ofsted Evidence?
Both approaches count as enrichment. But the quality and consistency of evidence differs.
Quality of Education
External providers deliver specialist curriculum content consistently. DIY delivery depends on individual teacher expertise and confidence.
Personal Development
Both contribute. External providers often bring industry connections, career context, and equipment children would not otherwise encounter.
Behaviour & Attitudes
High engagement in both formats when delivered well. External providers bring novelty value that boosts engagement.
Leadership & Management
Booking a provider shows strategic enrichment planning and efficient use of resources. DIY shows initiative but risks inconsistency.
For Ofsted, the key question is: can you evidence that enrichment is high-quality, consistent, and reaches all pupils? A specialist provider makes that evidence easier to produce.
FAQ
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