The 32 universities, including Oxford and Warwick, will recruit 306 trainees onto new physics with mathematics courses from September 2012. These courses, on top of the more traditional physics only courses, will mean that universities will be aiming to recruit 1,150 physics trainees in total – a record number. This builds on the recruitment of 864 physics specialist trainees this year, the highest number since records began in 1979.
Rather than covering all the sciences, physics with mathematics trainees will focus on two traditional subjects which are undergoing a renaissance in schools. Trainees will gain work experience in schools, including some of the new Teaching Schools judged as outstanding at training and developing their staff. This will give trainees the best opportunity for employment when they qualify.
Physics with mathematics trainees with a 2:1 degree or higher, will also have access to the TDA’s Premier Plus service, and training bursaries or the IOP’s teacher training scholarships, each worth up £20,000.
Dr Jane Medwell, Director of Teacher Education, University of Warwick, said: “At the moment we do not have enough highly qualified physics teachers in schools. Physics teachers are essential to our children’s future and that of the economy. The University of Warwick is delighted to offer an innovative new teacher training route for physics and engineering graduates. The new physics with mathematics courses will offer recent graduates and career changers high quality training in schools and good employment opportunities.”
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