Without Physics Teachers in Schools, There will be no Medical Physicists

Gill Collinson, IPEM Chief Executive, writes...

I was fascinated to the read the new report from our partners at the Institute of Physics on physics teaching in schools.

They found that:

• There is a shortage of about 3,500 (out of 10,000) specialist physics teachers.
• Around 25% of state schools do not have a single ‘in-field’ physics teacher.
• About 58% of physics classes at GCSE are taught by ‘out-of-field’ teachers.

They also found that students who are not taught by a specialist physics teacher are much less likely to take physics at A-Level and therefore go onto a physics-based profession, with students from the poorest backgrounds disproportionately affected.

IPEM has continually highlighted the acute workforce shortages facing Medical Physics. Whilst it may seem obvious, without sufficient physics teachers in schools, we cannot educate the Medical Physicists of tomorrow, a challenge clearly evidenced in this IoP report. In our Manifesto last year, IPEM specifically called for urgent action to tackle the shortage of physics teachers in schools.

Many of our members will remember a physics teacher who inspired them to pursue a career in Medical Physics. Teachers have the power to shape life choices and career paths, so without inspiring, expert teachers in schools, Medical Physics and, as the report highlights, physics-based professions and industries more broadly, will miss out.

I am grateful to all our members who contribute to outreach activities that inspire young people to consider careers in Medical Physics or Clinical Engineering. This work is essential and while we often showcase it during Healthcare Science Week, we know it continues year round.  If you attend an event, please send us a report – and ideally a photo – to communications@ipem.ac.uk and we can shout about it and hopefully encourage others to do likewise.

Remember, IPEM offers a library of outreach resources, including hands on equipment and information leaflets, to support your outreach activities. To access our library, simply fill in the form on our website.

We welcome the Institute of Physics’ work in preparing this report and fully support its call for urgent action to address the acute shortage of physics teachers. We will continue working with our members to press for action in this vital area.