In a study
(reported in BBC, The Telegraph & others) by Professor Alan Smithers and Dr Pamela Robinson
of University of Buckingham:-
From "Key Findings"
- Overall, in the schools and colleges of England and Wales, 37.7%
of the teachers of physics/physical processes to 14-18 year-olds had physics as their main subject of qualification.
- Teachers’ expertise in physics as measured by qualification is the second most powerful predictor of pupil achievement in GCSE and A-level physics after pupil ability.
From "Box 6.4: Lack of Underpinning for A-level"
- ‘It
is essential that dedicated
enthusiastic physics teachers take all physics lessons from Year 8 at least. Non-specialists convey the impression the subject is difficult
because of their own unfamiliarity and this instils prejudice and problems which can often not be rectified in pupils at a later stage.’
- ‘Teachers without a solid physics background struggle to excite and gain the confidence of the KS4 pupils.’
- ‘Many of our students have not been taught physics at high school by a physics graduate and consequently the lack of thorough grounding in the subject makes A-level difficult for both students and staff.’
From Section 6.10:
Physics is often seen as a hard subject by pupils. According to the head of science/physics in an independent girls’ day and boarding school in Yorkshire and Humberside, this is attributable in part to non-specialist teaching lower down the school, “Non-specialists
convey the impression the subject is difficult because of their own unfamiliarity and this instils prejudice and problems which can often not be rectified in pupils at a later stage.”
(Source: Physics crisis linked to lack of qualified teachers, University of
Buckingham, Summary, Full report)
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