The 2025 Annual Survey of Female Students’ Attitudes to STEM, conducted by I Wish, a national non-profit organisation focused on empowering girls in STEM, paints a concerning picture of inequality in subject access. The survey, which gathered responses from 2,335 Transition Year girls in single-sex schools, found that only 5% had access to Construction Studies and 6% to Engineering, compared to 84% and 74% respectively in mixed schools.
As a result, 55% of girls in single-sex schools cited limited subject choice as a barrier to STEM, significantly higher than the 37% in mixed schools.
These findings align with the Department of Education’s 2024 Indicator Report, which revealed that just 71% of girls’ schools offer at least one STEM subject beyond maths or science, in contrast with 96% of boys’ schools.
"We’re seeing real progress as more young women than ever before are pursuing STEM at third level, and that’s something to celebrate," said Gillian Keating, co-founder of I Wish.
"But this year’s findings make it clear that the pipeline is still too narrow at the start. Limited subject choices, particularly in single-sex schools, continue to restrict girls’ opportunities. Exposure drives opportunity."
The survey also highlighted additional barriers that prevent girls from fully engaging with STEM. These include:
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Lack of information (64%)
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Lack of confidence (55%)
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Lack of female role models (50%)
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Restricted subject choice (46%)
Interestingly, the survey found that girls who play sports report significantly higher confidence in STEM subjects (53% vs 40%) and in school life overall (61% vs 49%), suggesting a positive link between extracurricular engagement and academic self-belief.
Looking ahead, I Wish is scaling its outreach efforts through a new partnership with Logitech, following a successful two-year pilot of its primary school programme, which introduces girls to STEM at a younger age through alumni talks, industry visits, and hands-on experiments. In 2025, participation in this programme grew by 38%, reaching 265 students.
"Almost half of the students surveyed express a growing anxiety about maths, and that’s a concern," said Caroline O’Driscoll, co-founder of I Wish.
"On a more positive note, 50% of students want more STEM activities in the classroom, with 95% saying they believe girls can be just as good as boys in STEM."
The upcoming 11th annual I Wish Festival, scheduled for 5 February 2026 at the RDS Dublin, is expected to welcome over 4,000 students, offering them the chance to hear from leading women in global STEM industries.
At the launch of the report, Taoiseach Micheál Martin reaffirmed the Government’s support:
"This Government is fully committed to addressing the barriers facing females in STEM and ensuring every girl has the opportunity to shape their future through science, technology, engineering and mathematics."
The message is clear: while progress is being made, systemic barriers—particularly in single-sex schools—continue to narrow the STEM pipeline for girls. Ensuring equal access to practical and applied STEM subjects must now be a national priority.
You can read the full findings of the survey conducted by IWish here.
