Offer an engineers teach physics course
How initial teacher training (ITT) providers can offer a physics ITT course designed for engineers.
Applies to England
Overview
Engineers teach physics aims to give candidates with engineering and material science backgrounds the confidence to become effective physics teachers, without a physics degree.
In March 2022, the Department for Education (DfE) piloted the engineers teach physics programme for the 2021 to 2022 academic year. Following the pilot’s success, the programme has been extended nationally from the 2023 to 2024 recruitment cycle.
Although the course content will be similar to a physics ITT course, we expect providers to tailor their course to suit graduates of engineering and material science backgrounds.
How to offer an engineers teach physics course
To offer a course in engineers teach physics, email itt.engagement@education.gov.uk.
We can provide you with more information about the programme and the next steps to publish an ETP course.
Eligibility
Candidates need an undergraduate engineering or material science degree or equivalent. Providers can choose to specify A level requirements or a degree class, but we encourage providers to assess candidates on a case-by-case basis, taking into account their knowledge and experience.
The course is open to both recent graduates and people wanting to change their career.
Candidates also need to meet the eligibility criteria for initial teacher training.
Supporting trainees
While the specialism of these trainees should be embraced, the course should not become too different from other physics courses. Trainees will need to integrate with other physics trainees and departments when they start as an early career teacher.
Additionally, we encourage providers to seek opportunities for trainees to remain closely connected with their profession.
This could include:
- meet-ups with other engineering graduates who are training to teach physics
- conferences with the STEM community
We can provide more information on how to support trainees.
Funding
As with physics courses, scholarships of £29,000 or bursaries of £27,000 are available for trainees starting their teacher training course in the 2023 to 24 academic year.
Marketing your course
We’ll be supporting providers to market their engineers teach physics course by:
- raising awareness about engineers teach physics and encouraging people to consider a career in teaching
- connecting candidates to a teacher training adviser
- giving providers marketing assets to use on social media and websites
- offering best practice advice on how to share your course with as many people as possible
Contact us
Email itt.engagement@education.gov.uk if you have any questions about offering this type of course.