Staff Development

Basic requirements

From September 2013 it is anticipated that previous workforce regulations will be revoked and that it will be up to employers to decide what is appropriate for their staff and organisation (See here for more information)

As it presently stands, all new teachers entering the further education sector in England from September 2007 and teaching on government funded programmes must achieve the Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS) award within one year of appointment. This can be taken on a stand-alone introductory basis or forms the initial stage of a Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (DTLLS) or equivalent. A full teaching qualification i.e. The Level 5 Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (DTLLS) or equivalent, must be completed within five years of appointment. Endorsed Certificate in Education, Professional Graduate Certificate in Education, and Post Graduate Certificate in Education awards also meet these requirements. (Source: IfL).

Teachers and trainers in any sector also need to be competent in the subject or vocational area they teach. This may be through qualification at degree level (or equivalent) or through considerable occupational experience. For teachers of literacy, numeracy and English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) there is an additional qualification requirement in the subject you wish to teach.

The range of qualifications and courses can be confusing.  Have a look at our descriptions of qualifications which we hope will answer lots of your questions.

You can search for providers offering teacher training courses on the talent course database.

Teachers already working in the sector

If you are already working in the sector, the existing requirements remain the same - all teachers taking up a full teaching post from September 2001 are required to have a recognised teaching qualification, and all teachers of literacy and numeracy from September 2002, and teachers of ESOL from September 2003, are required in addition to have a recognised subject-specific qualification. Therefore anyone teaching these subjects prior to the 2002/3 reforms has no statutory requirement to have the specialist qualification. However, it may be required by an employer, and it is also considered best practice.

Those deemed 'visiting specialists' who are employed by the institution on an occasional basis to provide updating on current commercial, industrial or professional practice are not be required to undertake a teaching qualification.

Teachers with pre-2007 qualifications

TARIFF OF LEGACY INITIAL TEACHER TRAINING QUALIFICATIONS: SVUK and IfL PROJECT - This chart is designed to help teachers determine the broad equivalence of legacy teaching qualifications against the mandatory units of the new teacher training qualifications introduced in September 2007 (for the purposes of IfL membership).

Programme for certification for trainers/teachers with older RSA/Cambridge qualifications

Cambridge ESOL has a developed a qualification pathway for holders of 'historic' RSA Cambridge Diploma holders. This involves matching qualifications, teaching experience and recorded CPD to current requirements and submitting an individual training programme for approval. 

The application has to be checked and supported by management at the teacher's centre. Each application is scrutinised individually and on completion of the programme, applicants submit a portfolio of documentation and assessed tasks for external review.  

Eligibility - Teachers/trainers with the following qualifications:

RSA DIPTESLA
RSA DIP in TEACMLS
RSA DipTESLFACE
RSA (Cambridge) DTEFLA

And

who have a minimum of 5 years' full-time experience overall including a minimum of two years in the Further and Adult Education Sector.

Registering for the programme
Trainers/teachers can register either on an existing course at their own centre or through another centre.

Procedures & fees (see attached document for full guidelines)

For more information, please e-mail the ESOLHelpdesk@cambridgeESOL.org

Teachers with QTS

Qualified teachers from the school sector can often transfer directly into the lifelong learning sector by applying for some teaching hours and then completing an FE orientation module, which can be used as part of your induction or continuing professional development programme. Primary and secondary schoolteachers with QTS status are required to gain QTLS status within two years of joining the sector. This can be gained by completing the process of Professional Formation.

Institute for Learning's Policy on Professional Formation

Professional formation is the post-qualification process by which a teacher demonstrates through professional practice the ability to use effectively the skills and knowledge acquired whilst training to be a teacher and the capacity to meet the occupational standards required of a teacher. Professional formation leads to the conferral of Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) or Associate Teacher Learning and Skills (ATLS) status.

Equivalent qualifications

If you have qualifications from outside the European Economic Area (EEA), the National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) will be able to advise you on whether your particular qualifications are equivalent to the minimum UK requirements, and they may also provide certification where appropriate.

The Institute for Learning (IfL) also offers a scheme to recognise Overseas Qualifications. The scheme is designed for those teachers, currently employed in England, who already hold an overseas ITT qualification and are able to evidence their current teaching practice against the requirements established by the FE Teachers' Qualifications (England) Regulations 2007.