Physics has been rated as one of the best taught subjects at A level, according to a recent survey of undergraduates, and one of those rated most likely to contribute to good career and academic prospects. However, this report by The Ogden Trust also indicated that the situation at GCSE was more problematic.
While three-quarters (76%) of students who took physics A level said they had enjoyed studying it, a slightly higher proportion than those who took other STEM subjects, two-fifths (42%) of those who chose not to continue to do so cited a lack of enjoyment at GCSE as the main reason, followed by a quarter (24%) who said it was poor teaching. The same proportion said physics had no relevance to their future and one in five (19%) blamed a lack of encouragement by teachers.
Although entries for A levels are showing an increase in numbers, figures still remain at less than 5% of the total number of A level entrants and many from underrepresented groups face barriers to participation and progress. At A level, the subject was well taught according to 85% of students, who also scored it highly for having effective teacher advocates (83%) and being inclusive (90%).
The study of 1,004 current undergraduates, half of whom are studying STEM and half non-STEM disciplines at a university in the UK, and all of whom had taken A levels in England, showed seven in ten (68%), including those who didn’t take the subject beyond GCSE, acknowledged that physics A level made a positive contribution to a student’s prospects. Only maths, chemistry and economics scored higher.
Overall, physics teaching post-16 in schools was scored highly by survey respondents, half of whom are studying science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) disciplines and the other half non-STEM subjects at university.