(2) how many chemistry teachers there are in the maintained sector; and how many (a) are under the age of (i) 40 and (ii) 30 years and (b) have (A) A-level chemistry and (B) a degree in chemistry;
(3) how many biology teachers there are in the maintained sector; and how many (a) are under the age of (i) 40 and (ii) 30 years and (b) have (A) A-level biology, (B) a degree in biology and (C) a degree in biological sciences;
(4) how many mathematics teachers there are in the maintained sector; and how many (a) are under the age of (i) 40 and (ii) 30 years and (b) have (A) A-level mathematics and (B) a degree in mathematics.
In 2005 the Department commissioned research about mathematics and science teachers from the National Foundation for Education Research. The report, entitled ‘Mathematics and Science in Secondary Schools: The Deployment of Teachers and Support Staff to Deliver the Curriculum’, can be found on the Department's website at:
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/RR708.pdf.
The research included a survey of a representative sample of 40 per cent. of secondary schools in England. Projections were made of the total number of teachers in secondary schools in England delivering the mathematics and science curriculums. The findings also included distributions of the teachers by age and by highest qualification in the subject being taught.
Mathematics
The research found that there were an estimated 27,400 teachers teaching mathematics in secondary schools in England, of whom an estimated 21,100 were mathematics specialists1 including 11,700 with a degree in mathematics. The following table shows the distribution of mathematics teachers in terms of their mathematics qualifications. The teachers are counted once against their highest qualification in mathematics. For example, if an individual holds a degree and a PGCE in maths, they are counted in the figures for “degree in maths”; if an individual holds a PGCE in maths but a degree in another subject, they are counted against “PGCE incorporating maths”.
1 A “specialist” is defined as holding a degree in or incorporating maths, or having studied maths at initial teacher training.
Highest qualification in mathematics Teachers of mathematics Number Percentage Degree in maths 1,335 42 B.Sc or BA with QTS or B.Ed in maths 524 16 Cert Ed incorporating maths 193 6 PGCE incorporating maths 583 18 Other post-A-level maths qualification 140 4 A-Level maths 189 6 No post-16 maths qualification 251 8 No response 5 <1 Total 3,220 100 Due to rounding, percentages may not sum to 100 Source: NFER survey of teachers of mathematics, 2005.
The following table provides a breakdown of the age profile of mathematics teachers by their highest post-A-level qualification in maths.
Percentage Age Under 25 25 to 29 30 to 39 40 to 49 50 to 59 60+ Degree in maths 7 18 26 23 24 2 B.Ed/QTS in maths 3 8 25 34 28 2 Cert Ed in maths 0 0 0 14 80 6 PGCE in maths 4 19 35 28 14 1 Other post-A-level maths qualification 8 24 26 24 18 1 No post-A-level maths qualification 3 8 17 29 42 <1 Total 5 15 25 26 28 2 Notes: 1. Base: 3,036 2. Due to rounding, percentages may not sum to 100. Source: NFER survey of teachers of mathematics, 2005
Science
The research found that there were an estimated 31,000 teachers teaching science in secondary schools in England, of whom an estimated 28,800 were specialists2 in science. This included an estimated 13,700 biology specialists, 7,900 chemistry specialists, 5,800 physics specialists and 1,400 other science specialists.
The following table shows the breakdown of the samples of science teachers in terms of their qualifications in science. As before, individuals are shown against their highest qualification, so if an individual holds a degree in chemistry and a PGCE in science, they are included in the figures for “degree in chemistry”. However, if an individual holds a first degree in biology followed by a masters degree in biochemistry they are counted in the “degree in biology” category as “school sciences” take priority.
2 A “specialist” is defined as holding a degree in or incorporating the relevant science, or having studied the relevant science at initial teacher training.
Highest qualification in sciences Teachers of science Number Percentage Degree in Biology 753 27 Degree in Chemistry 440 16 Degree in Physics 279 10 Degree in general science 158 6 Degree in other science 415 15 B.Sc or BA with QTS or B.Ed in science 311 11 Cert Ed incorporating science 109 4 PGCE incorporating science 184 7 Other post-A-level science qualification 49 2 A-level science 29 1 No post-16 science qualification 27 1 No response 2 <1 Total 2,756 100 Note: Due to founding, percentages may not sum to 100. Source: NFER survey of teachers of science, 2005.
The “degree in biology” category can be disaggregated further and the next table shows the proportion of teachers holding a biology-related degree.
Type of degree in biology held by science teachers whose highest post-A-level qualification in science was a degree in biologyType of degreeTeachers of scienceNumberPercentageBA/BSc Biology34012BA/BSc Biology related (e.g. botany, zoology)27810BA/BSc Biology and science related723BA/BSc Biology and non-science related281MA/MSc Biology482MA/MSc Other science subject1271DPhil/PhD Biology401DPhil/PhD Other science subject16<1Total75327 1 “Other science subject” includes medical-related sciences, biochemistry, environmental science, etc—see section 6.3.5Note:Multiple response question: respondents could give more than one degree, therefore percentages may not sum to 27.Source:NFER surveys of science teachers, 2005.
The following table provides a breakdown of the age profile of science teachers by their highest post-A-level qualification in science.
Percentage Age range Degree in biology Degree in chemistry Degree in physics Degree in general science Degree in other science B.Ed/QTS in science PGCE in science Cert Ed in science All science teachers Under 25 6 5 8 3 7 7 4 0 6 25-29 27 18 13 11 26 14 18 0 20 30-39 29 31 26 23 32 16 34 1 27 40-49 23 24 27 31 20 27 30 16 24 50-59 15 21 24 30 14 32 15 77 22 60+ <1 1 2 2 <1 4 0 6 1 Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Note: Base: 2,597 (results for “other post-A-level qualification” in science and “no post-A-level qualification” in science not shown) Source: NFER survey of science teachers, 2005.
The Department has commissioned a 2007 Secondary School Curriculum and Staffing Survey and fieldwork was completed before Easter. The survey will provide more up to date information on the qualifications of teachers delivering all subjects in secondary schools. A report will be published during the summer.