Latest news: Physics teachers in demand

Graduates are being encouraged to become physics teachers, with the help of 100 Government scholarships. 09/11/2011

The scholarships are worth £20,000 each and will be available every year for graduates with a 2:1 or first class degree who are intending to do a mainstream physics, or physics with maths, Initial Teacher Training (ITT) course.

The Institute of Physics (IOP)  will work with experts in teaching practice to award scholarships. They will hand-pick candidates demonstrating exceptional subject knowledge, enthusiasm for the study of physics, and outstanding potential to teach. The IOP's relationship with the scholars will continue into their teaching careers. This will develop a group of outstanding physics teachers, all part of a community of physicists across schools, universities and industry.

IOP research shows that around 1,000 new specialist physics teachers in England are needed every year for the next 15 years to plug the gap so that the subject is taught by specialist teachers. Last year around 275 fewer trainees were recruited to physics initial teacher training courses than were needed.

A £2million-a-year partnership between the Department of Education and the IOP was announced by Education Secretary Michael Gove. The scholarship comes as part of the Government’s implementation plan for its ITT Strategy, Training our next generation of outstanding teachers.

'We are saying to people with a love of physics and a good academic record - choose teaching: it is a job that will reward you and exploit your abilities to the full,' says Professor Peter Main, director of education and science at the Institute of Physics.

Find out more about the different routes into teaching, search for postgraduate teacher training courses and get help with teaching job applications with our teaching advice.