Tottenham Hotspur Foundation kicks off UK STEM hub supporting local students off the pitch

Tottenham Hotspur Foundation has created a STEM learning space at its Percy House headquarters in London, UK, offering hands-on activities and industry-linked sessions for students facing limited access to science and technology resources.

Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, the club’s charitable arm focused on education, employment, and community support, has opened a new science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning zone at Percy House, located next to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London.

The space has been redesigned to host practical workshops, robotics activities, esports sessions, and formal qualifications. The Foundation says the new facilities respond to widening gaps in STEM access across local schools.

Xavi Simons visited the zone during a wider community tour, joined by former players Ledley King and Michael Dawson.

Local schools take part in early activities

The first week of activity included students from Lea Valley Primary School, who led robotics and LEGO-based tasks after completing a specialist STEM ambassador program supported by the Foundation and Schneider Electric.

Young people from Haringey Learning Partnership (HLP) also used the space for esports activities and collaborative sessions.

HLP executive head Gerry Robinson says, “As a relatively small provision, our resources are quite limited, particularly around STEM and computer equipment, but it’s what many of our children are really passionate about and can really engage them in education – having a space like this that they can come to in the local area is wonderful.”

Research highlights STEM barriers across Haringey

The Foundation’s expansion comes amid growing evidence of challenges in STEM delivery. A Haringey Council study reported that STEM attainment and participation across the borough sit significantly below London and national averages. Separate research found that 46 percent of schools in England cite funding as a major barrier to STEM provision, while 56 percent identify insufficient staff time.

Foundation education manager Andrew Wands says, “We know young people in our community have incredible potential, but often that potential goes untapped due to lack of access to the right opportunities. Our new STEM learning zone is about changing that – giving them the tools and inspiration to pursue careers that will shape the future.

“This initiative is just the beginning and we look forward to seeing the incredible ideas and innovations that will emerge from young minds around Tottenham.”

Sixth form students and specialist partners support delivery

The London Academy of Excellence Tottenham (LAET), a sixth form sponsored by the club and based on the stadium campus, will provide additional support through its student STEM ambassadors. They will assist with mentoring, workshops, and early-stage project development.

LAET head and Foundation trustee Jan Balon says, “We have students who are interested in going into STEM-related careers and being able to get involved in this kind of project will be amazing. Supporting younger children makes a huge difference in terms of leadership and mentoring skills.”

Creative Hut, a STEM education specialist, contributed to the planning and development of the space.

Creative Hut chief marketing officer Simon Davenport adds, “It’s great to finally see this after many months of planning. It’s a really proud moment. This space will bring kids out of the classroom and really help them build skills such as teamwork, collaboration and problem-solving that are critical for future careers.”

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