Teach Physics 2021
Published: 7 December 2020
“This internship has absolutely convinced me to do my PGCE after my degree. I’ve loved every minute of it and would go so far as to say it has been life-changing.”
2019 intern
Are you a physics undergraduate thinking about going into teaching? After the enforced hiatus for 2020, applications are now open for the 2021 Ogden Teach Physics programme. Entering its eleventh year, Teach Physics provides undergraduates with a funded four- to five-week placement in school science departments, allowing students to gain an intensive experience of teaching physics and of broader school life.
Teach Physics interns are supported and mentored by experienced teachers; they observe and participate in school science lessons and extra-curricular activities. In addition, they plan and deliver their own lessons, and share their experiences of university life. The interns are encouraged to join in with all aspects of teaching, including the development of resources that can be used for science teaching and activities at the school once the placements are over.
The feedback from the interns in 2019 was overwhelmingly positive; the scheme enabled them to embrace the teaching opportunity and gave them invaluable food for thought as they consider their future options. “I am a lot more likely to pursue a career in education,” enthused one of the 2019 interns. “I have really enjoyed this placement… Thank you all so much for this opportunity to work in a school and figure out whether teaching is for me. I would highly recommend it to anybody in physics who wants to get into teaching!”
“I just wanted to say thank you for the opportunity to do the Teach Physics internship, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Without you and your team behind the scenes none of it would be possible. I think I gained a lot from the internship and hope others get involved as I did.”
2019 intern
Feedback from the teachers was equally positive; they appreciated the enthusiasm and expertise that was brought into their school by the interns; not to mention an extra pair of hands to help deliver projects and extra-curricular activities than may normally not be possible.
“Brilliant scheme to encourage future physicists and give interns a real taste of schools – beneficial both ways.”
Teacher
“Before the school closures in 2020, 108 undergraduates had been placed across 95 different schools for placements due to take place in the summer,” says Dr Amnah Khan, Programme Officer for the scheme. “We are now really excited to be making plans and preparations for 2021 and are hopeful that the summer will see a successful return to the classrooms for our interns.
“We are able to place successful applicants at schools with very strong physics departments, meaning the interns can fully immerse themselves in teaching with a strong network of support and resources. We have schools across England wanting to take part in the scheme, with new schools joining the programme and long-established partners continuing as host schools. We hope to encourage even more undergraduate applicants to apply and more schools to host.”