Physics fails to make the grade in our classrooms
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The study of physics in schools and universities is in crisis because a shortage of well-qualified specialist teachers has subjected pupils to boring lessons, academics warned yesterday.
The number of A-Level exam entries in the subject halved since 1982, education specialists at the University of Buckingham found.
Just over 3.8 per cent of 16-year-olds took A-Level physics in 2004 compared with about six per cent in 1990. And one in four universities that previously had significant numbers of undergraduates studying physics have stopped teaching the subject since 1994, they said.
Professor Alan Smithers and Dr Pamela Robinson, who wrote the report, warned the problem was likely to get worse as fewer physics graduates were training to teach the subject in schools.
Physics lessons are increasingly likely to be taught by a non-physicist. Professor Smithers said: "Physics is in the grip of a long-term downward spiral."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments