1 in 3 physics teachers do not have a degree in the subject

MORE than a third of physics teachers in England’s secondary schools lack a degree in their subject, statistics show.

And around one in five staff taking maths and English lessons have no higher than an Alevel in the disciplines. Many children are also being taught by teachers lacking expertise in other core subjects such as chemistry, geography and foreign languages.

School leaders yesterday warned of a serious shortage of teachers in many subjects, leaving them ‘no choice’ but to ask staff to give lessons in subjects in which they do not have a degree.

The Department for Education data reveals that in November last year, 37.3 per cent of secondary school physics teachers held ‘no relevant post A-level qualification’. An analysis by the Press Association shows that this proportion has risen, from 33.7 per cent in November 2011.

Among maths teachers, 22.2 per cent did not hold a relevant degree last year, while for English the figure was 18.6 per cent.

However, figures for both subjects have improved since 2011, falling from 27.1 per cent and

‘Schools have no choice’

21.7 per cent respectively. Last year, around a quarter of chemistry teachers (25.1 per cent) held no higher than an A-level in the subject, around the same proportion as in 2011.

The proportion of geography teachers lacking a relevant qualification has risen to 33.8 per cent from 32.5 per cent, while more than a fifth of French teachers (22 per cent) and almost half of Spanish teachers (47.7 per cent) do not have a related degree.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: ‘There is a serious shortage of teachers in many subjects and schools have no choice other than to ask teachers to teach subjects in which they do not have a degree.’

Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University, said the maths and physics figures were particularly concerning. ‘No matter how good the teaching skills, if the person doesn’t have a very good grasp of their subject, it is not going to benefit the children in the way we hope,’ he said.

A Department for Education spokesman said: ‘We trust head teachers to run their schools and make the right decisions ... The latest figures show that nine in ten secondary lessons are taught by a teacher with a relevant post A-level qualification.’