WIREDGOV

The Institute for Learning (IfL) has welcomed the focus on teaching, learning and assessment in the Ofsted’s annual report on learning and skills.

Toni Fazaeli, IfL’s chief executive, said, “IfL wholeheartedly agrees with Sir Michael Wilshaw when he states in his report, published today, that ‘teaching, at its best, is the most noble and honourable profession’. We agree too that 'the best leaders focus on the leadership of teaching and learning’ and ‘promote professional development as an ongoing preoccupation’. We also share the chief inspector’s concerns about the numbers of providers being judged good or outstanding for teaching and learning, and are committed to working with teachers and trainers, leaders and sector partners to facilitate improvements.
 
“The best leaders and teachers and trainers work together. As the professional body for practitioners in the FE and skills sector, we regularly see examples of brilliant teaching and learning, pockets of excellence. IfL’s role is to encourage and facilitate teacher-to-teacher communications about seeking, learning from and adapting the best practice in England and around the world. We draw on the best international research about excellence in teaching – including the renowned work of Professors John Hattie and Dylan Wiliam – and shares findings with members.

“We also support members to take ownership of their own professional practice and are currently working with leading academics from the universities of Oxford and Cardiff on a new action research programme for teachers and trainers. We argue too, sometimes against a tide, that high-quality and substantial initial teacher education is vital for practitioners and the sector.

“No education system can be better than the quality of its teachers. We are keen to see more freedoms for teachers and believe that they should be supported to focus on improvement and on the best outcomes for their learners, rather than being burdened with paperwork and additional responsibilities. Our evidence shows that many IfL members will agree with Ofsted’s comments about the need for more opportunities for teachers to update their specialist vocational knowledge, and we hope that the Commission on Adult Vocational Teaching and Learning will offer recommendations on this area in the New Year.”