Recruiting student teachers to the sciences

Vicky Swinerd

ITE Projects Coordinator

The IOP and Initial Teacher Education (ITE)

We support physics education in 3 ways:

• Community• Resources • Policy

UCAS data

All Student Teachers on PGCE courses in the Sciences for 2006-9

Tells us:• ITE subject & provider• Previous undergraduate subject & University• Length of time between undergraduate & ITE• Age, gender, ethnicity

Does not tell us:• Undergraduate degree class• A Level subjects / results• Relevant life experience

Chemistry Student Teachers

What undergraduate course?

N = 2210N = 334

Smithers & Robinson, 2006, Physics in Schools and Universities II. Patterns and Policies. Buckingham: The Carmichael Press

Chemistry Student Teachers

What undergraduate course?

Opportunity 1: Engineers

Chemistry Student Teachers

Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Annual Reports. Students in Higher Education Institutions 2009-10

Opportunity 2: Other Subjects (SKE courses)

Chemistry Student Teachers

Chemistry Summary:

• 70 % of students are Chemists!

• Many students from traditional backgrounds– Could make more use of

SKE courses

• Not many engineers

Chemistry Student Teachers

What undergraduate courses?

Physics Student Teachers

N = 277

Smithers & Robinson, 2006, Physics in Schools and Universities II. Patterns and Policies. Buckingham: The Carmichael Press

N = 1482

Physics Student Teachers

What undergraduate course?

Opportunity 1: Engineers

Physics Student Teachers

Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Annual Reports. Students in Higher Education Institutions 2009-10

* Aeronautical, Chemical, Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Physics Student Teachers

Opportunity 1: Engineers – Career Changers

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 350.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

0.35

Rel

ativ

e F

requ

ency

Gap between u/g & ITE (years)

Physics

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 350.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

0.35

Rel

ativ

e F

requ

ency

Gap between u/g and ITE (years)

Physics & [subject other than astrophysics]

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 350.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

Rel

ativ

e F

requ

ency

Gap between u/g & ITE (years)

Chemistry

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 350.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

0.35R

elat

ive

Fre

quen

cy

Gap between u/g & ITE (years)

Chemistry & [subject other than Physics or Biology]

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 350.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

Rel

ativ

e F

requ

ency

Gap between u/g & ITE (years)

Medicine / Pharmacy

Physics Student Teachers

Opportunity 1: Engineers – Career Changers

Physics Student Teachers

Opportunity 1: Engineers – Career Changers

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 350.00

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.10

0.12

Rel

ativ

e F

requ

ency

Gap between u/g & ITE (years)

Mechanical Engineering

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 350.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

Rel

ativ

e F

requ

ency

Gap between u/g & ITE (years)

Electrical Engineering

Opportunity 2: Other subjects (SKE courses)

Physics Student Teachers

Physics Summary:

• 62 % of students are Physicists!

• Many students from non-traditional backgrounds

• Target career-changing Engineers

Physics Student Teachers

Recruitment & the IOP

• Campus Recruitment Events

• School Experience Programme

• Marketing to our Members / recent graduates

• Web-based support– www.iop.org– Recruitment pack– Physics recruitment resources

# teachphysics

Acknowledgements

• Chris Shepherd

(Teacher Support Manager, Institute of Physics)

• kj

I will be presenting on the same subject at the

ASE Annual Conference in January 2012

• Anything you’d like me to include there?(time allowing!)

• Any questions?

Thank you!

Vicky Swinerd

Vicky.Swinerd@iop.org