Royal High School Bath, GDST (RHB) continues to lead the way in STEM education, launching new initiatives designed to inspire students to pursue degrees in these fields and become leaders and changemakers in traditionally male-dominated industries.
This term has marked the launch of the school’s first-ever Flying Club, an initiative open to students in Years 7 to 13. In partnership with British Young Pilots (BYP), the club offers the opportunity to explore the world of aviation through a blend of theory and hands-on experience. Students have been attending weekly sessions led by a qualified BYP instructor, combining theoretical instruction – covering topics such as physics, meteorology, navigation and engineering – with practical flight simulator training.
Excitingly, participants have already put their learning into practice, with the club’s first real aircraft flight having taken place earlier this month.
Alongside this, RHB students are also participating in Choose Maths, a new initiative developed by the Girls’ Day School Trust in partnership with Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge. The programme aims to highlight the benefits of studying Maths and Maths-related degrees at university, featuring virtual sessions with current undergraduates and academics, as well as an on-site immersion day at Cambridge designed to give students a real insight into life as a Maths student.
STEM subjects are already thriving at RHB, with more than 60% of leavers choosing to study a STEM-related degree. However, women remain underrepresented in these fields nationwide, with a 2024 whitepaper estimating that only 26% of the UK’s STEM workforce are women. In aerospace engineering, it’s even lower at approximately 15%, and only an estimated 6.5% of licensed pilots in the UK are women. Initiatives such as these play an important role in helping to close that gap.
Heidi-Jayne Boyes, Head of Royal High, said: “At Royal High Bath, we strive to support every single student to achieve her ambitions, and we’re always looking for new opportunities to inspire and challenge them. STEM is hugely popular here, and it’s no surprise to see our students embrace these new initiatives with the trademark curiosity, determination and creativity of a Royal High girl.”
Craig Graham, Head of Maths at Royal High, said: “These fantastic opportunities from Murray Edwards College, Cambridge, further support us as a school to break the stereotype regarding girls and STEM. At Royal High, not only are STEM subjects the most popular choices in the Sixth Form, but they also make up over 60% of all university course choices for our leavers!”