How might we improve recruitment into postgraduate teacher preparation programmes? Insights from undergraduate physics students’ views about becoming a secondary school physics teacher

Recruitment of physics teachers is internationally recognised as challenging. One pool of potential recruits into physics teacher preparation programmes is undergraduate physics students. In this paper, we explore the insights into this challenge that can be provided by understanding undergraduate physics students’ views about becoming a secondary school physics teacher. In response to these insights, we suggest four points for consideration, action, and further discussion that may lead to gains in the recruitment of physics teachers. These suggestions have relevance for those teaching physics at all levels of education, as well as those who employ physics graduates.