Early career teacher support

The Ogden Trust provides tailored support for teachers during their early career from their initial teacher training to their fifth year of teaching post qualifying. The support is focused on secondary teachers who teach physics at any key stage and is designed to support early career teachers in their subject knowledge and pedagogical development.

Teachers in their first or second year of teaching can take part in our Teaching Core Physics programme which offers half termly coaching in local peer groups and is suitable for any teacher teaching physics in secondary.

If a teacher is in their second to fifth year of teaching and has a substantial proportion of physics in their timetables (usually in triple science or A-level) they can receive individual mentoring and professional development support through the Developing Physics Specialism programme.

All teachers on the early career programmes will be invited to a two-day festival in August each year to network and develop their teaching.

Teaching Core Physics

Secondary teachers in their first or second year of teaching physics at any stage receive half termly coaching sessions in a local peer group. Each of these sessions focuses on a different area of physics and relevant teaching approaches and resources. These sessions can be used to provide additional subject-specific support to the Early Career Framework provision. The local peer group enables teachers to build a support network and share ideas across schools.

• Regional group mentoring sessions
• Reflection & discussion
• Consideration of pedagogy & student misconceptions
• Time for reflection & discussion

Applications for Teaching Core Physics (2023/24) are now open.

Developing Physics Specialism

Those teaching a significant physics timetable (usually including some triple science or A-level classes) in their second to fifth year of teaching receive individual mentoring as part of this programme. Teachers will agree goals with their mentor at the start of the year and work towards these with support from their mentor. They will also receive a funded place for a conference of their choosing and receive books relevant to their interests.

• Personalised mentor support
• Access to CPD opportunities
• Part of a community of peers

Applications for Developing Physics Specialism (2023/24) are now open.

Applications

It is expected that the majority of those applying will be able to take part but if programmes are oversubscribed, priority will be given to applications that meet one or more of the following criteria:

• applicant school’s free school meals % above national average (27%)
• applicant school is Ofsted 3 or 4 rated
• applicant teacher is lone physics specialist, or
• applicant teacher is a non-physics specialist teaching post-16 physics and employed as a physics teacher.