Recent Press Releases

More teachers and better careers advice will help physics

PR24(06)

Thu, 17 August 2006

As this year’s A-level results are announced and the CBI warns that the falling number of science students will damage the future of science-based industry, the Institute of Physics says that more specialist physics teachers and better careers advice are what’s needed to combat the problem.

Dr Robert Kirby-Harris, chief executive of the Institute of Physics said “The best way to get students to study physics beyond GCSE is to give them a specialist physics teacher. The government has realised this and has set teacher recruitment targets for science. The Institute welcomes these targets and will work with the government to make sure they can be achieved.”

“Until the targets are met there will still be a shortage so the Institute continues to support non-specialists who teach physics through a variety of projects. This includes our series of support networks for non-specialist teachers across the whole of the UK run by physics teachers. We have also launched a set of CD’s for key stage 3 ( 11-14) teachers that provide the background theory and ideas about how to teach five key areas of the syllabus.”

Helen Reynolds, head of science at Gosford Hill School in Kidlington, said “The best way to get students to study physics is to have a teacher who is passionate about physics. If the person standing in front of them giving the lesson is enthusiastic about their subject then the kids will get enthusiastic too.”

Dr Kirby-Harris continued: “Another reason so many students are not taking physics is down to narrow careers advice in schools. Careers advisors need the right training and accurate and up to date information about employment and career prospects. Students who take physics at A-level will enjoy higher salaries in later life and, according to the CBI , there will be plenty of jobs available to them if they take a science degree. Physics graduates are also attractive to a huge range of businesses besides science, for example the financial services sector and the media.”

Key facts:

• According to a Pricewaterhouse Coopers report, a graduate in physics or chemistry earns around £187,000 more during their career than someone with A Levels but no degree, whereas history and english graduates increase their earnings by only about half as much.
• There are now fewer than 50 university departments in the UK offering physics to undergraduates (a decrease of over 30% since 1997).

Encouraging students to take A Level Physics

• Schools curriculum should use real-life examples and case studies to reveal how relevant and exciting the subject is. We welcome changes to the KS4 Programme of Study and we are trying to work with Awarding Bodies to ensure that the new Science GCSEs that will be introduced this autumn will include motivating and contemporary physics content. The Advancing Physics A Level developed by the Institute of Physics makes extensive use of modern physics and contemporary contexts.
• Improve careers advice in schools: there is evidence to show that careers teachers and advisors do not have a good understanding of the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) sector and so do not give students good advice.
• Solve the shortage of specialist physics teachers: there are insufficient teachers in schools who are passionate about physics, consequently they do not inspire their students. The Institute continues to support non-specialists who teach physics through a variety of projects a set of CD’s for KS3 teachers that provides the background theory and ideas about how to teach five key areas of the syllabus. The Institute has also set up a series of support networks across the whole of the UK run by physics teachers.

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