Should I stay or should I go? Exploring the experiences of physics teachers in their first five years

Abstract

The recruitment and retention of physics teachers in England is an ongoing problem and one that has yet to be adequately addressed. Focusing on physics teachers in their first five years of service, this research examines issues around job satisfaction and their expressed likelihood of remaining in the teaching profession. A quantitative methodology was adopted, using a survey with a mixture of questions covering issues regarding job satisfaction and likelihood of remaining in teaching; 95 eligible responses were returned and analysed. Analysis indicated that around 25% of the sample teachers were very dissatisfied with their job, and 77% said that they had considered leaving teaching; 31% were seriously considering leaving. Correlational analysis indicates that the most significant factors negatively impacting the satisfaction of physics teachers in their first five years were planning workload and having to teach out of specialism. Suggestions are made as to how these factors can be addressed using approaches to planning and timetabling.