The demand strand aims to increase the number of students taking physics beyond GCSE and on to degree level.

We will work with 24 pilot schools in three clusters (Oxfordshire, Nottinghamshire and Leeds) and will trial five main strategies; three aimed at students and two at teachers. The strategies will be targeted at groups of students to raise their confidence, aspirations and desire to study physics. There will be on-going evaluation of each of the strategies. The five strategies are:

E-mentoring

In partnership with the Brightside Trust, we will build an e-mentoring website to put selected school students in touch with undergraduates. This will be along the lines of the Brightjournals website. Trained undergraduate mentors will offer information, encouragement and some advice to the school students. The site will also have an open area with editorial content aimed at students and will include articles, video clips, master-classes and animations.

Industrial visits

The Industrial Trust, which has been arranging industrial visits since 1997, will be working with the pilot schools to arrange trips and related activities to local industries, hospitals and universities. We hope to stimulate students’ interest in physics by showing them the applications it has in industry and the many interesting types of careers it can lead to.

Careers – simulation activity

We will be working with the Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC) to develop a one-day simulation activity that involves physics and enterprise. CRAC has experience of successfully devising similar programs to raise youngsters’ aspirations when considering their career options and subject choices.

Careers – teacher CPD event

Through this event we aim to get better and more useful information into schools about careers in physics. As a result, students will have access to superior and more consistent advice to help them make more informed decisions about their subjects.

Supporting teachers of Physics

We want to bring the experience of the Physics Teacher Network into the pilot schools and will work with non-specialist teachers to improve their confidence and enthusiasm for Physics.