The demand strand

Some background

Since the early 1990s, there has been a decline in the number of students studying A-level physics. This has resulted in a drop in university entrants to physics-based courses. And all of this is associated with a fall in the number of specialist physics teachers in schools.

This has been despite research that shows that a physics-based degree leads to substantially enhanced career prospects.

The Demand Strand of the Stimulating Physics programme will work in schools to address these issues with a coherent package of activities.

Student-centred activities

E-mentoring through a dedicated web site. More >
Industrial visits to local physics-based industry. More >
Business activity in schools. More >

Teacher-centred activities

Supporting non-specialist teachers of physics. More >
Careers CPD event for teachers involved with careers advice in schools. More >

The pilot programme

We will be working in clusters of about eight schools in three regions:

Leeds
Nottinghamshire
Oxfordshire

We will be working closely with the local Aimhigher, SETNET and Secondary Strategy.

Launch event

There will be a launch event for participating schools at the National Science Learning Centre in York on the 3rd and 4th November 2006.

Activities will start in schools in January 2007.

Aims of the Demand Strand

to increase potential physicists’ identification with physics and so encourage more of them to continue studying physics;
to raise awareness of the value of further study at the HE level in physics and the opportunities for careers enabled by such a choice;
to increase specific knowledge, context and understanding so as to inform and advise young people on a more accurate and effective basis; and
to increase the effectiveness of physics-related careers advice given in schools through provision of optimal materials at particular times of the academic year.
improve the non-specialists’ understanding of physics;
improve the confidence and enjoyment of teaching physics for non-specialists; and
improve the attainment and engagement of students in the selected schools.

Objectives of the Demand Strand

to build links between individual students and local university physics departments;
to devise a physics-related business simulation which can be used in careers-related or work-related learning programmes within schools;
to develop CPD for physics teachers (and/or those responsible for physics) and careers coordinators in schools, to increase knowledge of career paths ;
to build a more effective partnership between subject leader and careers coordinator;
to build informal local networks for contact and support; and
to deliver to students an improved understanding of the role of physics in industry and enterprise.
deliver a sustained professional development activities for non-specialists; and
achieve improved post-16 participation in physics by students in the targeted schools.