Overview
Becoming a physics teacher with Ambition
On our Teacher Training programme, you can train to become a physics teacher in school. You can become a qualified physics teacher in one year, gaining both a QTS and PGCE.
You’ll train to teach in school, allowing you to train on the job and apply the theory you learn immediately. By the end of your training, you’ll have the confidence to teach in a classroom independently and stand a great chance of securing a permanent role.
What will my training look like as a physics teacher?
You’ll learn through a combination of:
- weekly self-guided learning
- face-to-face sessions
- online sessions with other trainees
These sessions are paced and structured to give you the opportunity to take a complex area of teaching and unpick it with the help of education experts. You will have the support and opportunity to develop key teaching techniques as well as building your confidence in teaching physics.
You’ll also have plenty of opportunities to observe other physics and science teachers in the classroom. This allows you to see great teaching in action and better understand what key teaching principles look like before putting them into practice yourself.
Why us?
Why should I become a physics teacher with Ambition?
As England’s largest professional development provider for teachers and school leaders, we believe a great teacher changes the future every day. Especially for children who have had a tough start in life, a teacher can be the critical factor in their success.
Our Teacher Training sets you on the path to becoming an excellent teacher, one who will inspire the next generation to succeed.
Training to teach physics with us, you’ll benefit from expert-led training that will help you thrive in all aspects of your teaching career. Physics will be at the heart of your training, allowing you to share your love of science with the next generation.
Train in school and bring physics to life
We blend the high-quality academic training you’d expect to get from a university with immersive, classroom learning.
As you learn the theory behind effective teaching, you can take this knowledge and put it into practice straight away. Throughout the year, you’ll gradually take on more teaching responsibilities and build your confidence as a teacher.
You’ll have the chance to get in the classroom and do practical lessons with the pupils, helping to bring physics to life in front of their eyes.
Become an expert in physics
At least 50% of your weekly modules will focus on physics, providing an excellent opportunity for you to develop your expertise in teaching this subject. For context, typically other in-school training programmes offer a 30% subject focus.
Our world-class team of programme designers have created an innovative and ambitious curriculum, based on the best research from cognitive and behavioural science around how new teachers learn. Together, they bring decades of subject-specific knowledge, building a rich and comprehensive curriculum, tailored to physics.
Why physics?
Why is teaching physics so important?
The Institute of Physics estimates that an additional 3,500 physics teachers are needed in England to make sure every child can reach their potential. If you choose to teach, you could be that deciding factor in a child’s love of science.
What might you be teaching?
You’ll teach a whole range of topics covered by the national curriculum. This might include:
- Electricity and electromagnetism: from battery and bulb ratings to the Earth’s magnetism.
- Atomic structure: from the nuclear model to ionisation.
- Waves: from pressure waves transferring energy to light waves travelling through a vacuum.
And lots more… Physics explains the universe and everything in it. It provides explanations for what we see in the world around us, and predictions about what we will see when we look in new places or engineer new devices.
As a physics teacher, you can help the next generation discover the universe and develop a love of science.
Apply
Applications for our September 2025 start are now open.
The first step for applying is to visit our partner map tool and use the filters provided to choose your preferred school partner in the region suited to you. You will then be able to register with this partner and complete Ambition's short application form - this will take you approximately 15 minutes to complete.
What is the application process?
Application
Visit our partner map tool and use the filters provided to choose your preferred school partner in the region suited to you. You will then be able to register with this partner and complete Ambition's short application form - this will take you approximately 15 minutes to complete
Interview
Our friendly team at Ambition will assess your application and if you are eligible, will pass your application to your preferred school partner. You will then be invited to attend an interview by this partner, they will be in touch with you to arrange this. Your invite will include:
- Details about the structure of the interview, including the questions which will be asked so you are able to see these beforehand.
- Tips to help you prepare.
- Information you'll need to bring to the interview.
You will also be asked to complete some short online multiple-choice tests as part of the assessment stage, no revision or preparation is required for this. Additionally, you will need to share your proof of eligibility as part of this stage.
Offer
If you are successful at the interview, you will be provided with a conditional offer. The conditions of the offer are dependent on you completing the relevant pre-programme checks, such as checking degree certificate gradings and DBS check.
Not yet ready to apply?
If you're not quite ready to apply but want to find out more about this programme, you can register your interest here.
FAQs
What qualifications do I need to apply for the Teacher Training programme?
To be eligible, you will need:
- An undergraduate bachelor's degree with honours, or equivalent.
- A GCSE grade 4/C or above in English and maths, or equivalent.
Please note some of our partners will want you to have a degree and/or A Level related to physics.
What funding is available as a physics trainee?
As a physics trainee teacher, you may be eligible for a £29,000 bursary. This is a tax-free and you wouldn’t need to pay it back. You do not need to apply for a bursary, you'll automatically get one if you're eligible.
The Institute of Physics (IOP) is awarding 175 scholarships worth £31,000, you can find out more about this opportunity here.
Read more about the bursaries and scholarships available for physics teacher trainees, or check if you're eligible to receive a bursary.
Are my international qualifications valid for this programme?
We accept international qualifications that are equivalent to our below eligibility criteria:
- An undergraduate bachelor's degree with honours.
- A GSCE grade 4/C or above in English and maths.
Please note some of our partners will want you to have a degree and/or A Level related to physics.
You will also need to provide an ENIC statement of comparability to progress with your application. For more information, and to apply for your ENIC statement, please visit UK ENIC or call Get Into Teaching at +44 800 389 2500 to get a free verbal assessment.
Please also note you must have permission to work in the UK full-time by the start and for the duration of the training programme. Unfortunately, Ambition Institute cannot sponsor your visa.
Do I need to have the right to work in the UK for the Teacher Training programme?
By the start of the training, international candidates must have a visa with permission to work in the UK full-time for the duration of the programme. You can find out more about which visa to apply for by visiting Get Into Teaching.
What qualifications will I gain at the end of the Teacher Training programme?
You’ll achieve qualified teacher status (QTS), a nationally recognised teaching qualification. When you’ve successfully completed the programme, you will also receive a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE). This is an internationally recognised qualification, opening up opportunities for you to teach abroad. The PGCE is worth 60 credits towards a master’s degree if you want to go on to further study.
I still have a question, who can I contact?
If you still have a question you can contact our Teacher Training Admissions Team via email at [email protected] or call us on 020 3846 5828.
Please note emails and phone calls can only be answered Monday-Friday, 9-5pm.