Retraining existing teachers as physics specialists could be around eight times more cost-effective than increasing bursaries to recruit new teachers, according to new analysis from the Education Policy Institute (EPI).
The research, commissioned by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, estimates that producing an additional year of specialist physics teaching by retraining a serving teacher would cost the Government around £5,200.
By comparison, generating an additional year of specialist teaching through a £1,000 increase in the physics teacher training bursary is estimated to cost around £41,000.
Even when costs to schools, including providing cover while teachers undertake training, are taken into account, EPI estimates that retraining remains around five times more cost-effective.
James Zuccollo, EPI director for school workforce, said:
“The government has two levers to close the specialist shortage: increasing bursaries for trainee teachers in shortage subjects, or retraining teachers already in the classroom."
He added: “Our analysis shows retraining is the more cost-effective route, yet no funded programme trains serving teachers to specialist depth in physics.”
The research highlights the continuing shortage of subject specialists in schools. EPI says just 55% of physics teaching hours are currently delivered by someone with a relevant degree, with shortages particularly acute in disadvantaged areas.
Physics teaching time delivered by qualified staff has fallen by 9% since 2010-11.
EPI is calling on the Government to fund at least one specialist retraining programme that would enable serving teachers to develop sufficient subject knowledge to teach physics, including at A-level.
However, it is not advocating replacing recruitment bursaries. Previous research commissioned by Gatsby found that bursary increases do attract additional people into teacher training and that those recruits are as likely to remain in teaching as their peers.
EPI argues that both approaches will therefore be required to address the shortage, but that investing in existing teachers could provide a considerably cheaper way of increasing specialist physics teaching capacity.
