About the awards
Every year NUSTEM is pleased to host the School Physicist of the Year Awards, proudly sponsored by the Ogden Trust, to celebrate the talent of exceptional physics students from across the region. Across the UK, 25 School Physicist of the Year events take place annually, with more than 600 students recognised for their achievement and effort in physics, including many Year 6 primary students.
School Physicist of the Year is a collaboration between Northumbria University and Newcastle University.
The awards are sponsored by The Ogden Trust.
SPOTY 2020 – wall of commendations
Congratulations to all of the amazing 28 SPOTY nominees across the region!
You have shown great improvement, enthusiasm and overcame difficult times to achieve success in Physics …
Here is what your teachers say about you …
Please note the quotes below rotate every 20 seconds.
Understated, but interested, E. is as cool as they come, in her own self effacing, hilarious manner. E., is working towards an Astronomy GCSE alongside her triple science courses. Reliably present on a Friday after school working as hard as ever. Two great years under your belt with many more to come.
T. is incredibly focussed and passionate about all three sciences, however he has paid special attention to physics this year. Willing to study beyond the course in his spare time and bring new topics to discuss with me after the class. A superb young man who will go far in this subject.
J. has impressed me throughout the first year of his GCSE Physics course. In lessons he has quietly got on with all tasks and his confidence has grown and grown. He now leads the class through complex calculations and concepts on the board, something that even he wouldn’t have imagined doing at the start of the year.
F. has an outstanding attitude to learning. A level Physics is a challenging subject yet F. has shown her determination to succeed. All work is completed on time and to a high standard. From the beginning of the course, F. has engaged with her teachers and taken responsibility for her continuing understanding and progress.
I nominate E. for her unwavering commitment to the subject with continuous progress and improvement across all aspects of science but especially Physics.
I nominate L. for her exceptional dedication to remote learning of all science disciplines. You have really excelled at Physics and are making our school very proud!
Throughout her time at Marden High School, M. has shown a keen interest in physics. She has an enquiring mind and an enthusiasm to excel in the subject and her progress and attainment is of the highest standard. M. jumped at the opportunity to help start a year 7 Physics club and she has been passing on that enthusiasm with great effect.
A. is one of the most conscientious students I have had the pleasure to teach. She is excellent in lessons, always supporting her peers, asking questions and seeking help when confused. A. was part of the team that won a space poster competition that I ran for her class before Easter. Along with her peers, she produced an excellent piece of work presenting the evidence for Edwin Hubble’s Big Bang theory and Fred Hoyle’s Steady State theory. The poster is now on display in school for other students to enjoy.
During the COVID-19 pandemic J. has shown incredible resolve, continuing to make incredible progress in Physics due to her independent learning schedule. J. was moved on to the triple science course later than her peers, but this has not held her back. J. is on track to achieve at least 2 grades above her GCSE target.
Eighteen months ago F. moved to the UK, and in such a short amount of time has made fantastic progress with his English language and his academic grades. In Physics no student has made as much progress as F.. This is all down to his determination and hard work.
I have not encountered a better combination of work ethic, humility and sheer genius. M. has regularly perfected tasks in Physics this year and tackled with some of the more difficult concepts with her unparalleled determination resulting in further success. A very strong year and I look forward to seeing her next steps in Year 11 and beyond.
One of the most gifted mathematicians I have ever encountered, R. combines his natural gifts with a strong work ethic and insatiable curiosity. Often asking poignant and deep questions about the universe R. is already a Physicist and I am very excited to see him take the next steps in his academic journey
J. is a very keen physicist; he’s shown great interest throughout his GCSE studies so far. Asking insightful questions and applying the topics we’re studying to abstract and often amusing scenarios. His understanding of topics has been excellent, and he has clearly dedicated much of his own time to reading and reviewing the work we complete in class, evidenced by some superb test results this year.
R. has a quiet and thoughtful approach to her Physics. She is careful with her words, keen that they reflect reality with absolute precision. She will check , amend, and check again to ensure that this is the case. Robyn will apply a known strategy to new situations with skill, using the learnt techniques and her general knowledge to understand, and then solve calculations and qualitative problems alike.
J. is a naturally gifted Physicist with a thirst for problem solving. She has really impressed the Physics department through her concise practical work and her thought provoking questioning within classrooms.
A. is a very dedicated and talented student. Her work is planned in meticulous detail and her solutions are beautifully presented. She has progressed so much in the space of a year, we are excited to see where her Physics takes her next.
I have taught T. physics for two years and have seen her grow into a confident student who is starting to realise her potential. She has achieved this through hard work, being prepared to learn from her mistakes, and a positive mindset where she refuses to give up and will work at a problem until solved.
D. is a highly motivated and dedicated pupil, combining raw ability with an impressive work ethic. Her natural curiosity, amiable personality and reflective approach to her studies mean that she is a joy to teach, and she regularly brings a smile to my face in lessons.
E. has great enthusiasm for Physics and her confidence has grown enormously over the last few years. She is reflective and considerate in her approach to problem solving and is patient at explaining to other students. E. is dedicated and curious in her studies and during the closures due to Covid-19 she has gone above and beyond in her independent studies making excellent progress.
J. is quietly conscientious and considerate in her approach to Physics which has led to impressive performance so far. She is thoughtful and dedicated to her studies, and shows great understanding in the depth of her inquisitive questions and the level of detail in her work.
T. has been nominated as he is a dedicated and hard working Physics student. He demonstrates a very keen interest in how the Physics we learn about can be applied to the world around us. T. has a natural intuition in the subject with an ability to deal with problems in many different situations.
C. is a student that consistently shows dedication and hard work in Physics. She has a natural instinct for the subject coupled with a strong problem solving ability. C. demonstrates a deep interest in understanding Physics and its application to a real world scenarios. It is a pleasure to nominate C. for this award.
I have taught T. physics for two years and have seen her grow into a confident student who is starting to realise her potential. She has achieved this through hard work, being prepared to learn from her mistakes, and a positive mindset where she refuses to give up and will work at a problem until solved.
D. is a highly motivated and dedicated pupil, combining raw ability with an impressive work ethic. Her natural curiosity, amiable personality and reflective approach to her studies mean that she is a joy to teach, and she regularly brings a smile to my face in lessons.
L. has put in many additional hours after school in the physics classroom, completing additional work when ever she could. During lockdown this fantastic attitude towards her studies has continued and she can start year 11 confident that she has done all she can to have the best year ahead.
A. did not find physics easy at the start of the year, but her continued determination and hard work showed a very quick improvement in her work. During lockdown A. has completed many of the tasks set and will be able to return to school knowing that she did her best to get her year 11 off to the best possible start.
O. is a very hand working student and he is passionate about Physics. His excellent maths skills is a great advantage in problem solving. He leads his team during practical sessions and he is good at applying his theoretical knowledge to the practical side of this. He is a fantastic team player and supports his peers.
T. is an exceptional all around student, with a clear gift for physics. She reinforces this with outstanding effort and drive for every task in lessons which leads to incredible attainment, scoring above and beyond expectations. Not only this – T. loves to share her knowledge with other students, often helping them (and me!)
E. has demonstrated throughout Year 12 to be a highly able A-Level physics student. He has a careful and thoughtful approach to his studies and is both keen to support his peers as well as ask probing questions to further his understanding. E. is a pleasure to teach and demonstrates a genuine interest in physics.
L. is a fantastic student. He is highly committed to his studies and demonstrates considerable determination in completing all tasks to a high standard. L. has been an excellent ambassador for physics whilst at Ponteland High School. He represented the school at past open evenings and took part in the last school Science Show. This involved being a science demonstrator and presenting in four shows to over 800 people!
SPOTY FAQs
Please note that the FAQs below are only applicable when hosting SPOTY events at University, with the exception of the first FAQ.
Will the students win something?
Yes, this event IS NOT a competition. It’s more a celebration of achievement. Every student will receive a prize and a certificate.
As the nominating teacher, do I need to attend?
Teachers are asked to attend the event and be a part of the ceremony to celebrate their students’ achievement. Teachers also feature in the photos taken when awards are being presented.
Do I only need photo consent for my child?
We ask for photo consent for everyone attending the event so our photographer can take pictures while people are networking.
If myself and/or my child do not give photo consent can we still attend?
Yes. Just let us know when you arrive and we will inform the photographer so they do not take photos of anyone who doesn’t give consent.
I want to drive to the event, where do I park?
As we are an inner city university, we recommend taking public transport where possible. For those who need to drive the event there is limited roadside parking available on Falconer Street and Byron Street. University car parks are for university permit holders only.
How will I receive the photos of the event?
As teachers and parents we ask you to provide your email address so we can send the photographs to you via email.
What is the dress code for the event?
The dress code is smart casual. Some students choose to wear their school uniform, others prefer to wear something else.
What happens when I arrive at the event?
Upon arrival, all attendees must sign in at the registration desk and hand in their photo consent forms. Once registered there will be several scientific demonstrations around the room for guests to visit and learn about. There will also be food and refreshments available before the ceremony begins.
