Page 3 | Science teacher at secondary - should it be a specialist?

Hollyhedge · 2025-03-14T11:04:29+00:00

Hi all, DS shortly taking GCSEs. On for triple science. His mock grades seem to have come down in chem and physics but gone up in bio. My mum, who was a teacher, thinks they should have specialists for triple science GCSE. DS’ teacher this year is Bio grad. I am not blaming him (not going to get us v far with 8 weeks to go!), it may just be DS is struggling. Also, the school has to use the teachers they have and we have generally been v lucky However, what are your thoughts on bio grad teaching Chemistry and Phyisics?? Thank you

ItsBeenOneWeek · 14/03/2025 11:42

We reap what we sow. We’ve allowed the degradation of the welfare state and its institutions for decades now by voting in successive governments who are happy to cut spending on those institutions in the name of austerity.

Original poster

Hollyhedge · 14/03/2025 11:42

Iloveanicegarden · 14/03/2025 11:38

I have 3 points to make here.

1 as many posters have said schools have to use whatever teachers they have. Some years ago the situation was that in one particular year there was only ONE graduate on the Teacher training programme - ONE. There were plenty of Physics graduated but they didn't want to teach.

I was a teacher whose role in the school was disappearing but they wanted to keep me on - so they gave me a y9 science group. That was hard although I did have scientific knowledge

3 I was HOD when I retired (Design and Technology) with over 30yrs experience. The school couldn't afford to appoint another teacher so they 'promoted' a younger colleague who had no experience at all. His only qualification in the subject was 2 weeks work experience at a fast food chain.

Be grateful he has a qualified teacher at al

Thanks. But I don’t think any of us need to be grateful for having a teacher at all. My parents and sister are teachers - I think it’s about time the profession got the status and pay it deserved and children did have suitably qualified teachers. DS is in a school with v high deprivation which makes it even harder for the school to recruit.

I’m not cross with the school at all, but grateful that my son and his peers have a teacher at all, no sorry…

OP posts:

Iloveanicegarden · 14/03/2025 11:38

I have 3 points to make here.

1 as many posters have said schools have to use whatever teachers they have. Some years ago the situation was that in one particular year there was only ONE graduate on the Teacher training programme - ONE. There were plenty of Physics graduated but they didn't want to teach.

I was a teacher whose role in the school was disappearing but they wanted to keep me on - so they gave me a y9 science group. That was hard although I did have scientific knowledge

3 I was HOD when I retired (Design and Technology) with over 30yrs experience. The school couldn't afford to appoint another teacher so they 'promoted' a younger colleague who had no experience at all. His only qualification in the subject was 2 weeks work experience at a fast food chain.

Be grateful he has a qualified teacher at al

Original poster

Hollyhedge · 14/03/2025 11:35

DPotter · 14/03/2025 11:33

I suppose in an ideal world - yes each subject should be taught by subject specialists. However Physics teachers are like hens teeth. The city institutions love Maths and Physics graduates and pay sooooo much more.

Many biology grads would have studied chemistry to A level, and some of their course would have had biochemical aspects.

Yeah I think bio/ chem is slightly more achievable. Trying to do physics would be much tougher. Hey ho, onwards we go!

OP posts:

DPotter · 14/03/2025 11:33

I suppose in an ideal world - yes each subject should be taught by subject specialists. However Physics teachers are like hens teeth. The city institutions love Maths and Physics graduates and pay sooooo much more.

Many biology grads would have studied chemistry to A level, and some of their course would have had biochemical aspects.

Maddy70 · 14/03/2025 11:20

There is a huge shortage of science teachers. Most science teachers teach outside of their subject

CanOfMangoTango · 14/03/2025 11:14

The school will be doing their best with the teachers that they have.

Physics teachers in particular are in short supply.

twistyizzy · 14/03/2025 11:13

Result of national teacher shortage. Many don't even have permanent teachers, let alone subject specialists!

Original poster

Hollyhedge · 14/03/2025 11:13

CarrotParrot · 14/03/2025 11:12

Obviously ideally they should BUT it's almost certainly a choice between a biology teacher and a non-science teacher. Or no teacher at all. Science teachers are in very short supply!

I think mum is looking back 20- 30 years ago…

OP posts:

CarrotParrot · 14/03/2025 11:12

Obviously ideally they should BUT it's almost certainly a choice between a biology teacher and a non-science teacher. Or no teacher at all. Science teachers are in very short supply!