Latest news

On Tuesday 14 April, members of staff from The Economist visited Westminster City School to deliver a talk to Year 12 students, with a focus on careers and pathways in STEM.

Following the assembly, students in the Pathways to Finance and Engineering programmes took part in smaller workshops, where they explored how data, technology and communication come together in the workplace.

During the sessions, students were introduced to key concepts such as algorithms and how they are used in real-world applications. The speakers also highlighted the range of roles within organisations like The Economist, from journalists focused on editorial purpose to engineers responsible for performance and user experience. Additionally, students were encouraged to think carefully about what a career in STEM involves.

As part of the workshops, students were given an overview of how a data science team operates, including how data is collected, analysed and used to inform decision-making. Discussions also touched on current challenges within the industry, including the future of publishing, the role of AI and how organisations are working to engage younger audiences.

Year 12 student Edward, who is part of the Pathways to Finance Programme, said:

“My session was about how The Economist uses testing and data to improve how they grow their revenue. We looked at how statistical tools like the p-value are used to understand whether results are meaningful, or they happen randomly.

“It was useful for me to see how they make sure their data is fair and representative, which helps reduce bias. It also made me think about how I can improve my own way of doing research and data analysis. One of the most interesting techniques we looked at was A/B testing. It replaces guesswork with data-driven decisions and helps improve public engagement and outcomes.”

The visit provided students with a clear insight into how STEM skills are applied in a professional environment, and how data, analysis and communication work together in practice.

Students engaged thoughtfully throughout the workshop sessions, raising questions about areas such as paid publishing models and the use of large language models (LLMs) in shaping content and strategy. A big thank you to the staff from The Economist for their time in helping students to see how STEM skills are applied in the field of work.