This is the seventh instalment in a series of blogs that provide information on occupational roles that employers struggle to fill. In this article we take a look at the role of the physics teacher.
The UK needs an additional 1.28 million STEM professionals and technicians by 2022. To stand any chance of achieving this, the UK needs more physics teachers to teach and inspire future generations of students. So, if you love physics, if you’re great at physics and if you think that you could develop the necessary skills to pass all of this great knowledge onto students, then why not become a teacher of physics?
How to become a physics teacher
To teach in maintained schools in England you need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS) through an Initial Teacher Education (ITE) course. You can choose to study full time or part time, through a school-led or university-led route.
The university route means completing your level 3 study at school or college (A-levels, including maths and physics) and progressing to full time university study and achieving a PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) for teaching physics.
The school-led route, involves training within a school or group of schools and being employed once you have qualified (have achieved QTS, qualified teacher status).
As physics teachers are in high demand, the funding available to support you while you train is substantial. UK residents could be eligible for a government bursary of up to £30,000 tax-free. The amount of bursary you will receive depends on your degree classification. Outstanding prospective teachers could apply for a prestigious IOP Teacher Training Scholarship. Each scholarship provides £30,000 tax-free funding and a package of exclusive benefits including IOP membership, trips to science-related venues and plenty of networking opportunities.
Pay for physics teachers
The average salary for a newly qualified physics teacher is £22,467 and there are opportunities for progression to head of year or science for example. Leadership roles in teaching can command salaries of £66,638.
