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Professional development

Developing the workforce

Workforce development is about the current drive towards creating a professionally fully qualified workforce in the public sector. From 2010 all teachers and trainers in the further education system will be required to hold an appropriate qualification.

Find out more in Equipping our teachers for the future (November 2004)

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Reform of initial teacher training

Several reforms affecting initial teacher training come into effect from September 2007

  • New entrants to the profession will be expected to work towards the ‘Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills’ (QTLS) award.
  • Centres for Excellence in Teacher Training (CETTs) will be developed.
  • New standards, quality assurance and planning arrangements for initial teacher training will be introduced.
  • Trainees will have an entitlement to a subject specialist mentor.
  • Practitioners will be required to maintain a Professional Development Portfolio which will evidence their reflection on professional practice and satisfy the requirements of the licence to practise of the Institute for Learning (IfL). The portfolio that Subject Learning Coaches complete as part of the Professional Training Programme is based on the IfL model.

These reforms will affect learning providers across the board, not just FE colleges.

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CPD for practising teachers

Reforms to teacher training and development will require qualified teachers and trainers in the sector to register with the Institute for Learning and to remain in good standing through at least 30 hours of continuing professional development a year evidenced through their professional portfolio.

Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) is in the process of revising subject specialist qualifications in literacy, language and numeracy for practising teachers.

Find out more from LLUK

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New professional standards for teachers, tutors and trainers

LLUK has developed new professional standards for teachers, tutors and trainers in the further education system. The standards contain both mandatory and optional units, allowing a framework within which it is possible to tailor and contextualise qualifications to suit specific roles. These standards will be supplemented by the e-learning CPD standards in early 2007.

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Safeguarding children and safer recruitment in education

As part of the Government’s ‘Every Child Matters’ initiative, regulations similar to those introduced in schools in relation to the safeguarding of children came into effect on 1 January 2007. The scope now includes new teaching and support staff in FE.

Read or download Safeguarding children and safer recruitment in education

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