25th March 2015 6:00
By Blue Tutors
The government has revealed new plans to encourage maths and physics graduates to become teachers. Under the proposals, maths and physics students with strong academic records will be able to apply for bursaries of up to £15,000 to help with university costs if they agree to become teachers for at least three years. The government is responding to concerns that Britain’s youth are not being adequately prepared to respond to a future in which the country’s economy will reply heavily on science based industries.
The plans to offer cash incentives to maths and physics graduates are a bid to increase the numbers of excellent maths and physics teachers in British schools. The programme is estimated to cost £67 million, and is designed to increase the numbers of maths and physics tutors 2,500. The first step in establishing the initiative will be a series of trials informed by the army bursary scheme, which will offer a select group £15,000 to students who pledge to become teachers. The scheme also offers help to former maths and physics teachers who want to return to the classroom, by helping with job applications and interview preparation.
Additionally, the scheme will offer training to teachers who are not currently qualified to teach maths and physics, helping get them to a standard where they can specialise in these subjects. The plans have been given a mixed response from head teachers and teaching unions. The NUT said that whilst plans to encourage new teachers were welcome, the problem was more widespread and needed a more comprehensive response.