Celebrating the value of physics teaching

Colleagues from across the Institute of Physics’ (IOP) Learning and Skills department attended the Association for Science Education (ASE) conference at the University of Nottingham, the UK’s largest annual event focusing on science education, professional teaching, and learning, in January.

At a time when there are so many challenges facing physics education across the UK, it is more important than ever for the IOP to be able to connect with and hear from all the different parts of the wonderful physics education community. Across three days, IOP colleagues delivered 11 sessions spanning a range of themes including physics teacher retention, physics education research and the physics curriculum.

Retention was rightly an important theme running throughout the conference, including one session discussing how to welcome and support internationally recruited teacher trainees, delivered by initial teacher education (ITE) tutors, Dan Cottle (University of Birmingham), Rob Campbell (St Mary’s University, Twickenham), Caroline Neuberg (Leeds Trinity University), and Rachel Davies (King’s College London). Dan and Rob met through the IOP’s ITE tutor group, and have collaborated, with support from the IOP, on supporting international ITE students.

International trainee teachers are currently playing a significant role in helping address the physics teacher shortage, especially in England, and whilst there are some challenges we can help schools, ITE tutors and new recruits overcome, we also know this group brings enthusiasm, commitment, and a rich diversity into our education system. Speakers cited the benefits of pre-arrival webinars to support with some of the practicalities of relocating and sessions to introduce them to the education system, along with support to navigate visas and job applications.

Following the recent launch of our curriculum framework, ‘The fundamentals of 11 to 19 Physics: A framework based on the big ideas and practices of physics’, Senior Adviser, Charles Tracy, delivered a session and a discussion on the principles for designing a physics curriculum, with attendees feeding back on the positive role this framework has had at the very heart of the curriculum design process.

“The day served as an invaluable reminder that, despite the challenges the education sector faces, the power of building a strong educational community can never be underestimated.”

Sessions on Inclusive Science Teaching, delivered by expert professional support coaches, Eleanor Wylie and Sue Woolhouse, proved popular and it was great to see our inclusive science teaching tips resonating with practitioners.

The IOP team were also pleased to host a series of thematic drop-ins during the breaks, providing a valuable opportunity to meet experienced physics teachers, those new to the profession and to network with partner organisations at the event including The Ogden Trust and Gatsby, which the IOP already works closely with on a range of programmes.

And a number of us were also delighted to attend an inaugural evening reception hosted by the Science Education Policy Alliance (SEPA). Alongside the IOP, SEPA includes ASE, the Royal Society, the Royal Society of Biology and the Royal Society of Chemistry, all working together to influence national science education policy. After a brief welcome from Professor Louise Archer (in her capacity as President of ASE) and Dame Athene Donald (as Chair of SEPA), we had a wonderful opportunity to network and catch up with many leading figures in physics and science education more broadly.

As ever, ASE’s annual conference was a key milestone in the Learning and Skills department’s annual diary, and served as an invaluable reminder to me that, despite the challenges the education sector faces, the power of connection, of building a strong educational community, and the importance of celebrating the value of teaching, can never be underestimated.

Hari Rentala, Head of Learning and Skills, Institute of Physics