The 25th annual Welsh Physics Teachers Conference - Brecon 2026.

In-person CPD for teachers, student teachers and technicians.

Welcome to the 25th Welsh Physics Teachers Conference!

For all teachers and technicians of Physics we welcome you to join the Welsh Physics Teachers Conference Brecon 2026. This special anniversary promises to be a fabulous free week of presentations and workshops, with opportunities to learn, reflect and network with colleagues.

Programme for Friday 9th October 2026

The Conference will be held at Christ College, Brecon on Friday 9 October (09.30-16.15), where we will be joined in the morning by: Professor Paul Howarth: CBE FREng FInstP FNucl (IOP's President), Helen Francis: Domain Leader - Maths and Science at WJEC.

A technician's workshop will run on the morning where Nick Mitchener (Physics Technician, Ferndown Upper School) will lead a workshop focusing on practical Physics.

Registration

Teachers do not need to register for the morning talks; but do need to register their choices for the afternoon workshop A and workshop B.

Technicians do not need to register for the morning workshop. They will need to register for their choice of afternoon workshops alongside the teachers.

Teachers in state-funded schools in Wales attending this conference can apply for a Welsh Government funded bursary to part cover the cost of supply and travel. If you wish to apply for a bursary please tick the appropriate box during registration; we will send you details.

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0915 - 0945: Registration / Cofrestru

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Talks for Teachers / Darlithoedd i athrawon

F1: (09.45 -10.40) Dr Nic Bonne, Public Engagement and Outreach Fellow, Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, University of Portsmouth.Cymrawd Ymgysylltu Cyhoeddus ac Allgymorth, Sefydliad Cosmoleg a Disgyrchiant, Prifysgol Portsmouth.

Astronomy is a topic that engages and inspires a wide range of audiences around the world, but the blind and low vision (BLV) community can often find it difficult to engage with the subject due to its very visual nature. The Tactile Universe is a multi-award-winning public engagement project based at the University of Portsmouth which is opening up current topics in astrophysics research to the BLV community through accessible multi-sensory resources created using real astrophysical data. In this talk, Project Lead Dr Nic Bonne will speak on his own experiences as a blind student and academic, showcase the project's resources, how they have been created in collaboration with the BLV community and how they are used to inspire students and create inclusive educational experiences.

Mae seryddiaeth yn bwnc sy'n ennyn diddordeb ac yn ysbrydoli ystod eang o gynulleidfaoedd ledled y byd, ond gall y gymuned ddall a golwg isel (BLV) ei chael hi'n anodd ymgysylltu â'r pwnc oherwydd ei natur weledol iawn. Mae'r Bydysawd Cyffyrddol yn brosiect ymgysylltu cyhoeddus arobryn sydd wedi'i leoli ym Mhrifysgol Portsmouth sy'n agor pynciau cyfredol mewn ymchwil astroffiseg i gymuned BLV trwy adnoddau amlsynhwyraidd hygyrch a grëwyd gan ddefnyddio data astroffisegol go iawn. Yn y sgwrs hon, bydd Arweinydd y Prosiect, Dr Nic Bonne, yn siarad am ei brofiadau ei hun fel myfyriwr dall ac academydd, yn arddangos adnoddau'r prosiect, sut y cawsant eu creu mewn cydweithrediad â chymuned BLV a sut y cânt eu defnyddio i ysbrydoli myfyrwyr a chreu profiadau addysgol cynhwysol.

F2: (10.40 -11.30) GCE and GCSE update / Helen Francis, Domain Leader - Maths and Science, WJEC / Diweddariad TAG a TGAU / Helen Francis, Arweinydd Parth - Mathemateg a Gwyddoniaeth, CBAC

Helen will provide an update on the GCSE and GCE Physics examinations. / Bydd Helen yn rhoi diweddariad ar yr arholiadau TGAU a TAG Ffiseg.

F3: (11.30-12.15) IOP President: Professor Paul Howarth CBE FREng FInstP FNucI

F4: (12.15-12.30) Ewan Bodenham PHD student at UCL.

Ewan is the lead author of the new paper detailing the discovery of Galahadosuchus jonesi, a crocodylomorph dating to around 215 million years ago. The discovery has been named in honour of David Rhys Jones, a secondary school physics teacher from Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi.

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Technician Workshop / Gweithdy Technegydd

(09.45 – 12.00) FTECH1: Nick Mitchener RSciTech - Physics Technician / Technegydd Ffiseg, Ferndown Upper School, Dorset

This hands-on workshop, led by experienced technician Nick Mitchener RSciTech, is tailored for physics technicians seeking to refine their skills. A simple make and take where you will take away one transmitter and one receiver but can easily make more yourself for a class set. They can be used with years 9-13 to explain Doppler effect, young's slits and reflection. Participants will learn tips for focusing on safety as well as being able to network with colleagues from across the country.

Mae'r gweithdy ymarferol hwn, dan arweiniad y technegydd profiadol Nick Mitchener RSciTech, wedi'i deilwra ar gyfer technegwyr ffiseg sy'n ceisio mireinio eu sgiliau. Gweithdy syml lle byddwch chi'

Description supplied by the event organiser.