A physics teacher demonstrating how gravity works by juggling balls at the front of the classroom.

Become a physics teacher

Teaching secondary physics is an exciting and worthwhile career. Schools need more specialist physics teachers, so it's a great choice of subject.

Tax-free bursaries or scholarships are available for eligible trainee physics teachers.

Why teach physics

As a physics teacher, you’ll be engaging students in a wide range of experiments that can spark their interest. You could inspire your pupils to consider rewarding professions, from tackling climate change to artificial intelligence (AI).

It's inspiring getting 'wow, that's how it works' from pupils as they grasp a subject they thought was hard.

Jane, physics and robotics teacher

What you'll teach

You'll teach the national curriculum for physics(opens in new window), with opportunities to develop your pupils' ability to think like physicists and see physics as a solution to many challenges.

Themes you'll cover when you teach 11 to 14 year olds (key stage 3) include:

  • energy
  • motion and forces
  • electricity and electromagnetism
  • waves and matter

Themes you’ll cover when you teach 14 to 16 year olds (key stage 4) include:

  • energy, forces and wave motion
  • electricity, magnetism and electromagnetism
  • the structure of matter
  • atomic structure and space physics

Explore what teaching a key stage 4 physics lesson would be like(opens in new window).

Themes you’ll cover when you teach 16 to 18 year olds (key stage 5) include:

  • fields, vectors and scalars
  • mechanics and mechanical properties of matter
  • electric circuits and waves
  • matter, quantum and nuclear physics

People may not realise how much potential there is for progression in teaching. They think they go into the world of the classroom and that’s it. Lots of teachers have added responsibilities they enjoy doing and find fulfilling.

Chris Farr, teacher training adviser

Start your journey into teaching

Check your qualifications

To train to teach in secondary schools in England, you’ll need:

  • GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above in English and maths
  • a bachelor’s degree in any subject

Physics teacher training courses have had successful applications from candidates with a range of degrees, including maths, geology, business studies and finance.

Find out more about what qualifications you need to train to teach.

Non-UK citizens: check your qualifications

If you have qualifications from outside the UK, you'll need to show that they meet the standards set for teacher training in England.

You can get help comparing English and international qualifications.

Subject knowledge enhancement course (SKE)

If your training provider thinks you need to top up your physics knowledge, you might need to do an SKE course before you start your teacher training.

Fund your teacher training

The figures on this page apply if you're starting your training between September 2024 and July 2025. Financial support for courses starting the following year will be announced in autumn 2024.

Tax-free bursaries of £28,000 or scholarships of £30,000 are available for eligible trainee physics teachers.

You can get a bursary or scholarship alongside a tuition fee loan and maintenance loan.

You may also be able to get extra funding and support if you're:

  • a parent or carer
  • disabled
Non-UK citizens: funding your training

If you train to teach physics, you may be eligible for a bursary or scholarship.

Find out more about fees and financial support for non-UK trainee teachers.

Paid internship

If you’re currently doing an undergraduate or master's degree and are interested in teaching physics, you could apply for a paid teaching internship.

The 3-week programme could help you to understand what it’s really like in the classroom and get feel for school life.

Engineers teach physics

If you're an engineer considering a career as a physics teacher, there's a teacher training course designed especially with your experience and skills in mind.

Find out about the engineers teach physics training programme.

Get free one-to-one support

An adviser with years of teaching experience can help you to become a physics teacher. Chat by phone, text, or email as little or often as you need.

Find out more about advisers

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Get free one-to-one support

Whether it's just an idea or you're ready to apply, you could get personalised support from an adviser with years of teaching experience. Chat to them by phone, email or text as little or as often as you need.

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