Alarm over chemistry masks plummeting physics take-up

Physics is facing a crisis, with both universities and schools shedding student numbers in the subject at an alarming rate, according to a new report.

Endangered chemistry courses have been dominating the headlines, but this week researchers at Buckingham University published an analysis suggesting that the situation was even more grave for physics.

According to the report, more than a quarter of universities that once had significant numbers of physics undergraduates have axed the subject since 1994. The number of UK students on physics courses has declined by almost 30 per cent.

Alan Smithers, director of Buckingham's Centre for Education and Employment Research, who conducted the study, said: "Even the elite universities are losing students, so no one is immune.

"Physics was once known as the queen of the sciences. But we have sleepwalked into real danger.

"We are not bringing forward enough people to the cutting edge of pure and applied research in physics to underpin innovation and the economy."

Professor Smithers added that the situation was worse in physics than in chemistry because so many women were shunning the subject. Only 19 per cent of physics students are female, compared with 40 per cent in chemistry.

The report concluded that declining numbers of A-level physics entries were having a serious impact on university departments. The research showed that numbers of A-level physics entries had dropped from nearly 56,000 in 1982 to 28,000 in 2005 - a fall about 50 per cent.

Pamela Robinson, also from the Centre for Education and Employment Research, who co-authored the report, said: "The introduction of a combined science GCSE has meant many more pupils are studying some physics up to the age of 16. It might have been expected that this would lead to substantial increases in A-level entries and a narrowing of the gender gap. In fact, neither has occurred."

A-level results, which are due out next week, look unlikely to raise the gloom hanging over physics.