Is the FE SectorTruly Professional?

KNIGHT ROOM

Paul EelesChief Executive at EMFEC

Is the FE SectorTruly Professional

Is the FE SectorTruly Professional?

Toni FazaeliChief Executive at EMFEC

Is the FE SectorTruly Professional

Institute for Learning – offers Professional BodyMembership for Trainers, Teachers and Assessors

North of England Education Conference, January 2014, Toni Fazaeli, Chief Executive, IfL

The Institute for Learning supports FE teachers across career stages - ‘FE teachers are truly Professional’ • Average age of entry to teaching in FE is some 10 years older than schools, bringing substantial

vocational expertise from employment and industry

• 2013 – FE Teachers qualified, or working towards qualification as teachers/trainers plus15,000 QTLS

• FE teachers believe strongly in the importance of a national requirement for teachers to be trained and qualified as teachers, as the clear majority did in government’s consultation, but not heeded

• FE teachers are dual professionals – experts in their subject/vocational area and in teaching, learning and assessment

• FE teachers believe strongly professional development central to being excellent and up to date in their practice – 2013 at least 30 hours of CPD a year

• Teachers being professionally qualified - Conservative – No, Labour – Yes, Liberal Democrat - Yes

The Institute for Learning’s object is to support teachers, trainers and assessors be professionally excellent - as good as they can be. IfL complements and extends support from college/provider.

The Institute’s patrons strongly support teachers, trainers and assessors having high professional status: Geoff Petty, Baroness Margaret Sharp of Guildford, Lord Tim Boswell of Aynho, Prof Ann

Hodgson, Baroness Helena Kennedy of the Shaws QC, Barry Sheerman MP, Stella Mbubaegbu CBE

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About us

The Institute for Learning (IfL) is the independent, member-led professional body for tens of thousands of teachers, trainers, tutors and assessors working across diverse further education (FE) and skills sector including:

• adult skills and community learning • FE colleges • sixth-form colleges • voluntary sector• uniformed services • work-based learning• some in schools

Formed in 2002, IfL specialises in teaching, training and learning. As a professional body, IfL has a distinct role in supporting individuals to be excellent in their practice, thereby enhancing the professional status of teachers and trainers. Teachers, trainers and assessors choose to be a member of IfL as the professional body.

As an independent professional body, IfL is governed by an advisory council comprising elected members and some stakeholders and an elected non-executive board – led by professional teachers. IfL works closely with several sector organisations, unions and employer bodies and is apolitical. IfL is not a trade union.

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What we do?

The Institute for Learning focuses on making a difference for members in three key areas:

Read more about the work of IfL in our strategy updated for July 2013.Read IfL's latest impact review to find out how IfL works to support professionalism10

Join the professional body

Whether you are seeking career development, enhanced status or to build on your knowledge, IfL membership can be of benefit to you in your professional practice and your careers.

Annual membership fees are much lower than those of other professional bodies, with concessions available for members on lower incomes.

• Find out more about membership benefits, grades and fees

Joining IfL is easy and only takes a few minutes. You can join online or over the phone with one of our membership team on 0800 093 9111.

Teachers become part of a large professional body – all dedicated professionals wanting to be as good as they can be in their teaching or training practice, and proud to be a professional teacher, trainer or assessor in the workplace.

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‘Finding IfL and becoming a member was a lifeline for me’

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Being Professional - Professional status, voice of the professional, professional development

Is the FE SectorTruly Professional?

Michele Sutton OBEPresident

Association of Colleges

Is the FE SectorTruly Professional

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IS THE FE SECTOR TRULY PROFESSIONAL

Michele Sutton OBEPresident

Association of Colleges

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• Wide Sector• FE Colleges – complex and different• 6th Form, Land Based and

GFE/WBL/Apprenticeships• Admissions from 14+ years• Entry level to HE - Undergraduate and

Postgraduate• Autonomous – variety of contracts and terms and

conditions• College Governors, Principals and senior

management teams determine workforce requirements

• Set framework in terms of qualifications and experience for all staff

Is the FE Sector Truly Professional?

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Versatile and Flexible Workforce• ie Lecturers/Teachers• Support Staff• Business Support• Assessors• Managers• GovernorsTherefore, have to consider recruitment, retention, qualifications, staff development, CPD, scholarly activity and research, performance management.

FE NEEDS

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All staff, especially those in teaching to have:

• Up to date knowledge of their sector• Current subject knowledge• Current pedagogy including virtual learning in

new environments

FE NEEDS

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• On-the-job staff development• At Bradford College we still insist they hold

teaching qualifications (for the majority of FE/HE, full and part-time staff)

• To be able to respond to skills needs – adept/fleet of foot, eg engineers need credibility in their industry

• Up to date subject specific knowledge• Excellent IT skills

Effective Teachers Need

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All entry level teachers are expected to have L2 Maths and English and have or work towards a teaching qualification

• Level 3 IFL• Levels 4-7 require – Professional Body

Accreditation and now HEA Accreditation, eg

– Lawyers – Law Society– Dispensing Opticians – need to meet General

Optical Council Requirements, have a degree and a teaching qualification

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Bradford College Students with the ABDO President

Title of the slideSecond line of the slideBradford College Ophthalmic Dispensing Team

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FT Staff 450 PT Staff308With Teaching With Teaching Qualification 402 Qualification 234Working towards 15 Working towards 27

417 261ie 93% 85%

= 90% average

Includes 21 PT and 29 FT staff with no teaching qualification required (HE (7 in total), Distance Learning, Professional Programme)

CONCLUSIONThe majority of staff in FE Colleges are truly professional.

Is the FE SectorTruly Professional?