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The Institute for Learning (IfL) has welcomed a speech by the shadow education secretary, Tristram Hunt MP, at the Association of Colleges conference, in which he said that a future Labour government would insist on college teachers being qualified.

IfL’s chief executive, Toni Fazaeli, said, “Further education colleges have a central role in ensuring that young people and adults acquire the skills that employers need, including in maths and English. Learners of all ages and abilities have the right to expect consistent, high-quality teaching and learning, delivered by qualified teachers.

“IfL has persistently made the case, backed by evidence, for teachers and trainers in further education and skills to have teaching qualifications. To be effective, teachers need to be dual professionals who stay up to date in their vocation or subject area as well as in teaching methods. Knowing how to teach is an essential complement to subject expertise, and learners deserve nothing less.

“The National Union of Students wants teachers in further education to be qualified and to have professional status. It points out that removing the need for teachers and trainers in FE to have any form of teaching qualification is totally at odds with the government’s proposed A-level and GCSE reforms. Qualification reforms for students make it crystal clear that qualifications really matter, and the reforms are aimed at strengthening student achievement and ensuring that the qualifications are rigorous. IfL agrees that the same principles apply to teachers being qualified.

“By 2011, around 80 per cent of college teachers were qualified and 19 per cent were working towards qualification. This was reassuring for learners, parents and employers. IfL is deeply concerned, however, that the recent policy reversal by the coalition government in relation to teacher qualifications may lead to a rapid decline in the proportion of qualified teachers, to the detriment of high-quality teaching and learning and successful outcomes for learners.”

Notes

See the blog post by Joe Vinson, vice-president (further education) at NUS.

Click to download IfL’s recently published collection of thought pieces by teachers and leaders – Should teaching qualifications be left to chance?