UoL Physics Research in Action

The UK is suffering from a shortage of specialist teachers, particularly within the field of physics which in 2023/24 recruited only 17.27% of the target number of trainee teachers [1,2]. The disparity in the proportion of specialist to non-specialist teachers is particularly prevalent in schools attended by pupils who receive free school meals, a common indicator of economic deprivation [2]. This specialisation deficit means that many teachers don't have the subject knowledge necessary to embed cutting-edge STFC research within classrooms, which we intend to address. This project will address these issues by creating a suite of research-connected practical teaching resources, aimed at Years 7-9 (Key Stage 3). These will come with the training materials necessary for the activities to be run by non-specialist teachers such as lesson plans, videos, interviews with scientists and FAQs. The team will create and maintain an associated equipment library so that schools may have access to the high-quality tools they require. This project will form part of a wider University of Liverpool Physics Outreach strategy, aiming to improve access to high-quality laboratory education for young people. The Department already hosts a GCSE Required Practical Library and hosts regular visits to the Central Teaching Lab for A Level required practicals, however the scope of this is limited to practicals requested by the exam boards. This project extends the offering to ages 11-14 in line with the STFC Wonders Initiative, and takes advantage of the more open, early-stage curriculum as a way to bring STFC science to children. The workshops will be simple, cost effective and ready to go ‘off the shelf’. Each practical will include key skills and link Key Stage 3 curriculum topics to the STFC-funded research that takes place at the University of Liverpool. We will link magnetism to Accelerator Science, understand the mechanisms of the Sun through our Nuclear Science and Particle Physics and explain the ways we explore the universe through Particle Astrophysics. We are in a prime position to deliver this intervention, being geographically situated in one of the most deprived areas of the country [3]. We have several strong STFC-funded research clusters, specialising in Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Science. This, combined with our track record as a Department in delivering high-quality outreach [4, 5], shows that this project has potential for strong and meaningful impact. To ensure classroom relevance, we will involve a group of current KS3 teachers in the design stage by recruiting them as testers of the product. As well as providing their valuable insights, these teachers will then be able to act as ambassadors in their networks, boosting the profile of the work. We hope to engage with 15 schools per year, equivalent to reaching roughly 450 children between the ages of 11-14. We will evaluate as outlined in the STFC Public Engagement Evaluation Framework. [1] The House of Commons Education Committee. Teacher recruitment, training and retention, May 2024 [2] P. Kirby and C. Cullinane. Science Shortfall. The Sutton Trust Research Brief, Jan 2017 [3] Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (2019), The English Indices of Deprivation 2019 (IoD2019) , URL: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d8e26f6ed915d5570c6cc55/IoD2019_Statistical_Release.pdf, Accessed 21/11/2024 [4] Tactile Collider Team Scoops Top European Scientific Outreach Prize (2019), University of Liverpool, URL: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/physics/news/stories/title,1144533,en.html. Accessed: 21/11/2024 [5] The Tale of Two Tunnels, UKRI, URL: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ST%2FS000127%2F1 . Accessed: 21/11/2024