recruiting student teachers to the sciences vicky swinerd ite projects coordinator

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