WIREDGOV

The Institute for Learning (IfL) is making a difference for teachers and trainers. The professional body has published a review of its progress since the introduction of membership for all teachers and trainers across the further education and skills sector. Covering the years 2008 to 2009, the report focuses on the three strategic priorities that IfL developed with members and set out in its Five-Year Strategy.


IfL’s three strategic priorities are to work with members to make a difference by offering benefits that they value and that help support their practice with learners; to increase the professional status of teachers, trainers and assessors; and to enable their collective voice to influence policy and decision-making.


Achievements highlighted in the impact review include:


· IfL now has more than 195,000 members, drawn from the breadth of the further education and skills sector

· Nine out of ten members value the benefits that IfL gives them

· 80,000 members are using IfL's personal learning space, REfLECT, to plan, review and record their continuing professional development (CPD)

· In the first six months of the professional formation process being in place, already 271 members have achieved professional status through Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) or Associate Teacher Learning and Skills (ATLS)

· Nearly 370 volunteers have already visited more than 350 colleges and providers, offering regional support to more than 4,400 fellow IfL members through workshops, online forums, local networks, REfLECT resources and subject-specific support

· Virtually all members who read IfL's On the Agenda e-newsletter and Intuition magazine value them

· IfL has introduced a range of member benefits, including discounts for Open University CPD programmes and on Apple and Dell computers, as well as giving funding for action research bursaries

· 9,500 college and provider leaders receive regular updates from IfL showcasing the importance of practitioners

· By 30 September 2009, 110,000 members had declared their hours of CPD, demonstrating their professionalism

· At least seven out of ten respondents to the 2009 membership survey endorsed each of the specific priority areas where IfL is concentrating its voice to influence policy.


Toni Fazaeli, IfL's chief executive, said, "In our first year of full membership we have, with our members, raised the profile of teachers and trainers nationally, and I am pleased that we are providing services that members value and that help their teaching and training. We support our members’ professional practice, for those just entering the profession of teaching and training, through to those very experienced practitioners who are role models and support others. Every milestone and improvement achieved by IfL has been with the support of our members, and I am enormously encouraged by their enthusiasm for professional development and belonging to their own professional body, and for doing the very best they can for their learners.


"Teachers and trainers in further education and skills make an enormous contribution to the social and economic well-being of our nation. I have every confidence that IfL members’ commitment to the highest levels of professional teaching and training, with practice continually updated by their own professional development, ensures that young people and adults of all ages have the education and skills they need."



NOTES TO EDITORS


IfL's 2008-09 Impact review: Making a difference for teachers and trainers is available to download in PDF format at http://www.ifl.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/13047/IfLImpactReview2008-09.pdf 



The Five-Year Strategy document is available to download in PDF format at

http://www.ifl.ac.uk/about-ifl/ifl-vision-and-strategy/five-year-strategy-2009-14 




About IfL


The Institute for Learning (IfL) was formed in 2002 and is the professional body for teachers, tutors, trainers and student teachers in the further education and skills sector, including adult and community learning, emergency and public services, FE colleges, the armed services, Sixth Form Colleges, the voluntary sector and work-based learning.


All FE college teachers and trainers working in LSC-funded provision are required to register as members of IfL, undertake continuing professional development (CPD) each year and abide by the IfL Code of Professional Practice. As a key partner in delivering workforce reform, IfL is responsible for managing the registration process, monitoring teachers’ continuing professional development (CPD) and for conferring licensed practitioner status – Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) or Associate Teacher Learning and Skills (ATLS).


The standard membership fee of £30 is paid by individuals, or by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) for teachers and trainers working in LSC-funded provision, as an investment in professionalism.


An independent professional body, IfL is governed by an elected Council and works closely with several sector organisations, unions and employer bodies.



CONTACT


Press office:



Lindsay Baugh 07736 246 697 or 01707 392 552

Email lindsay.baugh@howardsgate.co.uk 



Membership and other enquiries:


The Institute for Learning

First Floor

49-51 East Road

London

N1 6AH



Telephone: 0844 815 3202

Website: www.ifl.ac.uk 

Email: enquiries@ifl.ac.uk