Girls' school opens AI lab to close tech gender gap

Strathcona Girls Grammar has opened a new AI and STEM lab and introduced a technology program for students in Years 7 to 12, as schools and employers report persistent gender gaps in technology uptake and STEM careers.

The facility, called the CORAL Lab, will provide applied learning in areas such as artificial intelligence, coding and robotics. The program also includes co-curricular activities and guidelines covering AI use in schoolwork.

Recent surveys have pointed to differences in how men and women use AI tools at work. Research cited by the school from job site Indeed found 81 per cent of men reported using AI tools at work, compared with 70 per cent of women.

Gender representation also remains uneven across technology and engineering roles. Women account for less than 16 per cent of the engineering workforce and 28 per cent of IT roles, according to figures included in the announcement. Separate studies have suggested girls' interest in STEM can decline during the middle years of schooling without sustained exposure and encouragement.

The CORAL Lab sits within Strathcona's wider technology program for secondary students. The space includes equipment and activities spanning coding, robotics, AI-driven game design and student-led app development.

Senior students will also assess AI outputs as part of their work in the lab, covering judgement and ethical reasoning alongside technical skills.

Clubs and events

Co-curricular activities will include Robotics and Engineering Clubs, using tools and platforms such as Spheros, micro:bit and LEGO Mindstorms. The school also plans AI bootcamps and hackathons, along with driver simulators and a virtual reality exploration area.

The lab is expected to support participation in external competitions and events, including e-sports and the "Ferrari AI Challenge - Powered by HP with Intel".

The program includes partnerships with technology suppliers and services firms. Strathcona has collaborated with Alyve Technologies and CompNow, which it said supports students' digital literacy and AI fluency across the school community.

In classrooms, students have already begun using AI tools across subjects, according to the school. Students are using them for brainstorming in English, problem-solving in Chemistry and modelling in Mathematics.

Policy and training

The lab builds on a formal AI policy already in place at Strathcona. The policy sets expectations on authorship, disclosure and responsible use.

Teachers have received AI training on tools including Microsoft Copilot, and the school plans hands-on workshops for parents and the wider community.

School leaders described the lab as part of a broader push to improve girls' exposure to emerging technologies. Principal Lorna Beegan linked the move to workforce participation and leadership representation in technology roles.

"The tech sector moves fast, but women remain underrepresented in STEM and leadership roles. AI gives us a real opportunity to equip our girls with the skills, confidence and experience they need to lead in technology and shape the future," Beegan said.

Beegan said the school chose to integrate AI into learning rather than treat it as a separate topic. "While many schools are still grappling with how to teach AI, we are embedding it directly into the classroom. The CORAL Lab gives our students the chance to lead in STEM and use AI responsibly, critically, and with impact," she said.

"We are arming young women with the digital fluency, creative confidence, and ethical frameworks needed to thrive in an AI and tech driven world," Beegan said.

Deputy Principal (Teaching and Learning) Kara Baxter said the lab would be used for both technical instruction and broader learning skills. "Our CORAL Lab represents a bold step forward in reimagining how our students engage with learning in a rapidly changing world. In this hub, students will not only gain technical skills in areas such as coding, robotics, and digital design, but also develop the critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving abilities that will prepare them for future study and work. It will be a space where girls are encouraged to explore, question, and create-where their voices and ideas shape the technologies of tomorrow," Baxter said.

The CORAL Lab will operate across the secondary years, with projects and activities expanding as students progress from introductory skills to more advanced work in AI and digital design.