Teachers of Physics Award

We know that teachers contribute an immense amount to society, and we wish to accord them the recognition they deserve.

With these awards, we honour teachers alongside distinguished research scientists and industrialists.

In this way we recognise that without dedicated teachers there would be no physics research community or technological base in society.

The winners receive a prize of £1,000, an engraved glass paperweight and a certificate.

There is a common application system for all teachers in England, Ireland and Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales but judging of the awards will take place using separate national panels.

Eligibility

• Teachers must be employed in a school or college in the UK or Ireland either part time or full time and have taught for at least three years.
• Teachers, nominators and referees cannot be members of the IOP’s council, employees of the IOP, under contract to the IOP or a member of the award’s judging panel.
• Nominators cannot act as referees.

Making a nomination

The 2021 IOP Awards have now closed for nominations. Further information will be provided on the 2022 IOP Awards in due course.

Nominations can be made on behalf of oneself or on behalf of someone else.

Nominations can come from a variety of sources, including parents and students (past or present), head teachers, colleagues, governors, advisers, and Institute branch representatives. Pupils are advised to seek the support of a staff member to gather all the necessary information and references.

Nominators will need to submit:

• their details and details of the nominee.
• a citation that highlights the nominee’s excellence in five areas (see below). It is expected that candidates would typically excel in three out of the five areas, but all five will be scored. 
• contact details for two referees, one of whom should be a senior colleague in the school. Please obtain permission from the referees in advance.

If you are nominating someone else, you should inform the nominee as you will need to provide their contact details and they will be contacted following submission to complete an optional equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) monitoring form.

Winners will be shortlisted based on the quality of the information provided, so the citation must include details under the following categories, which are indicative only.

Teaching excellence

Expert subject knowledge and pedagogy, classroom style, ability to create a warm and inclusive learning environment, popularity of the subject, progression of pupils to further study.

Staff development within the school or within a group of schools

Working with trainee teachers or other early career teachers, staff training, development of departmental resources, running professional development activities, informal sharing of expertise, training of technicians.

Work beyond the classroom

Running a physics or science club, running a catch-up or revision club, taking school trips to places of scientific interest, work in widening participation of students in higher education, hosting pupil-based events or activities. Work with feeder schools, parents or the local community to promote physics or science.

Work with the wider educational community

Writing articles, giving talks at teacher gatherings online or face to face, activity on social media to promote physics or physics teaching, advising regional or national education bodies on physics or science, examining.

Inclusion

Supporting those in groups currently under-represented in physics. This might be demonstrated by expertise in, commitment to or dissemination of work that improves inclusion, developing, implementing or promoting specific teaching and learning methods or whole-school work, promoting progression to further study, or by working in a school of a type or in an area that specifically supports students from under-represented groups.

Winners

View current and previous award winners.

Teachers of Primary Science Award

The Institute of Physics is proud to support the Primary Science Teaching Awards. Learn more about these awards at www.pstt.org.uk. 

Find out about the work of previous winners.

Learn about our other awards.