We were interested to read that the FE staff surveyed by the Institute for Learning (“Lesson planning? Forget it and start again, July 30) rated other learning activities more highly than events for science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). It surveyed some 5,000 lecturers, few of whom would see themselves as teachers of STEM subjects, so it is unsurprising that they might not find such events useful. In contrast, 99 per cent of STEM teachers and lecturers attending events as part of the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) STEM programme find them useful or very useful (200809 attendee research).

We endorse the statement in the Brilliant Teaching and Training in FE and Skills guide that “working in networks to enhance the teaching of STEM subjects” is a priority, and the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics, National Science Learning Centre and the Royal Academy of Engineering are pleased to be supporting LSIS in taking this priority forward.

Norma Honey amp; Jane Imrie, National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics. Professor Sir John Holman National STEM director, National Science Learning Centre.