Education Quandary

'My daughter wants to take three science A-levels. But her school may not offer physics by then; few students want to take the subject and teachers are scarce. Do all schools have this problem?'

HILARY'S ADVICE

Not exactly. It's true there is an acute and growing shortage of physics teachers, and many schools are struggling to put a suitably qualified teacher in front of pupils, "but this case is extreme", says Chris Shepherd, the teacher-support manager at the Institute of Physics.

He surmises that the school is almost certainly in the South-east, where high house prices deter teachers from applying for jobs, and shortage subjects suffer particularly badly. If this family were to move, the situation might be better.

But families can't chase around after physics teachers, which leaves thousands of students getting a sub-standard experience of the subject, because many schools are limping along with just one physics teacher, or drafting in biology and chemistry teachers to deliver their physics modules. A staggering one out of three teachers teaching the subject in the early years of secondary school doesn't even have physics A-level.

And the situation will get worse. Applications to train as physics teachers were slightly up last year, thanks to new incentives for graduates, but that still leaves numbers way below what are needed even to stand still. And standing still isn't an option. Physics teachers are an elderly lot, with many nearing retirement, so things can only go downhill fast.

There is a drive to draw mid-lifers into the classroom from other careers, while non-physics specialists are being encouraged to beef up their teaching via new materials and support from the Institute of Physics. But poor teaching and the climate of the times mean many A-level pupils reject what they see as hard, boring subjects such as physics and maths, in favour of "all about me" favourites such as drama and psychology.

One key to turning the tide might be inspirational teaching in the early years of secondary school. But as most schools hoard their precious physicists for A-levels, this is exactly where non-specialists are struggling to deliver the goods. And while a new A-level curriculum, Advancing Physics, has had some success in making the subject more sexy, it doesn't solve the problem of who is going to teach it. As a country, we produce only 2,000 physics graduates a year, few of whom are interested in teaching, no one currently has a solution.

READERS' ADVICE

According to data on the shortage of people taking the post-graduate certificate of education in physics, intake is around one-sixth of the number of teachers required to replace those retiring or leaving. Butphysics is not becoming increasingly unpopular. The number doing AS and A2 has risen recently, as has the number applying to university to study physics.

But physics graduates are in increasing demand. The flexible skills of physics graduates make themattractive to many employers, so few go into teaching. They can get better paid, less stressful jobs elsewhere. Peter Main, Director: Education and Science, Institute of Physics, London

Hunt for somewhere offering the course. Physics may be unpopular – it is seen as more challenging than the fluffier courses available these days – but it is an essential grounding for many rewarding careers. Good universities want physics and maths for many scientific courses, as well as for maths and engineering. I changed school for sixth form. The change of scene was wonderful. Laura James, Cambridge

Schools that continue to offer physics, chemistry and biology as individual subjects have a better take-up of them at A-level. These are, of course, mainly the grammar and independent schools. Richard Madingly, Buckinghamshire

NEXT WEEK'S QUANDARY

I am interested in the idea of educating my child at home, as I think I could teach him more and better than teachers trying to teach him in a class of 20 or 30. But I am worried about his social life – I wouldn't want him to grow up cut off from other children. Is there any way round this?

Send your letters or quandaries to Hilary Wilce, to reach her by next Monday, 14 April, at The Independent, Education Desk, Second Floor, Independent House, 191 Marsh Wall, London E14 9RS; or fax 020-7005 2143; or send e-mails to h.wilce@btinternet.com. Please include details of your postal address. Readers whose letters are printed will receive a Berol Combi Pack containing a cartridge pen, handwriting pen and ink eraser