Physics Teachers

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:38 pm on 27 September 2022.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 1:38, 27 September 2022

Well, I don't recognise the picture that you're portraying. I certainly don't think physics teachers and the word 'crisis' go together, and I certainly don't think that the Minister for Education and Welsh Language would agree with you either. I think it's fair to say that the recruitment to ITE of students studying to teach physics does remain below our desired position, and ITE partnerships and the Education Workforce Council do have a programme—you asked what we're doing: they do have a programme—to encourage more entrants into ITE. We have a marketing strategy that targets those subjects that are more challenging for recruitment, and STEM subjects clearly is an area where activity is undertaken. I know that the Minister is also trying to identify students who are now in England at the moment, from Wales, to encourage them to come back to Wales to teach.