WIREDGOV

The Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) has produced guidance for providers of initial teacher education following changes to further education teacher training qualifications.

In January 2013, LSIS released the findings of its review of further education teacher and training qualifications,  which it conducted at the request of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)  in the report Further Education and Skills in England: New Qualifications for Teachers and Trainers: Phase Two – Findings Report (LSIS, 2013).

Having now completed the development work for new qualifications, LSIS has produced a guide for providers of initial teacher education, entitled Teaching and Training Qualifications for the Further Education and Skills Sector in England (2013) Guidance for initial teacher education providers, which introduces the new teaching qualifications and explores the implications for teacher educators.

The guidance was developed jointly by LSIS and the Association of Centres for Excellence in Teacher Training (ACETT) to develop this guidance. Paula Jones, Chair of ACETT, said “ACETT members have worked in a productive partnership with LSIS to produce guidance for the 2013 revised teacher qualifications.  Our shared ambition was to produce helpful and supportive guidance for the teacher educator community and the providing organisations they work for. We are confident that we have achieved our aim.”

LSIS worked closely with stakeholders from the FE and Skills sector to shape the new qualifications. Chair of the Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers (UCET) Post 16 Committee, Jim Crawley, said: “Working with LSIS and a range of expert teacher education practitioners, we have been able to develop what will be a more simple, flexible and responsive set of initial teaching qualifications for the sector. This has been a really good example of cross sector working, and we will be looking forward to the new qualifications being phased in from 2013 to September 2014. Teacher educators will find this guide to the new qualifications very useful. It does a complicated job well.”

The new qualifications include three generic initial teacher training qualifications a Level 3 Award in Education and Training, a Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training, and a Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training. Specialist qualifications are also available at Level 5 for those teaching English (Literacy), ESOL, mathematics and disabled learners.

LSIS chief executive, Rob Wye, said: “The Commission on Adult Vocational Teaching and Learning (CAVTL) noted that vocational teaching, learning and assessment is a sophisticated professional occupation which demands robust initial training and the continuous development of expertise. Teacher educators will play a key role in ensuring that the new teacher training qualifications will benefit the teachers of tomorrow and enable them to develop both the vocational and pedagogical skills, required of dual professionals. 

“LSIS is very proud to have been chosen to help develop these qualifications, which are part of our legacy for the sector.”

Individuals who hold existing teaching qualifications or who are currently partway through their study do not need to undertake the new qualifications or to change courses. Awarding organisations and universities are now developing the new qualifications using the technical guidance developed by LSIS, which will be introduced from September 2013.