What is the work like?
Further education (FE) teachers, sometimes known as FE
lecturers, teach students over the age of 16, and some 14 to
16-year-olds studying work-related subjects.
As an FE teacher, you could work in a variety of learning
environments, ranging from colleges and community centres to
prisons and the armed forces.
The types of courses you could teach include:
- academic subjects (like maths and English) often leading to
qualifications such as GCSEs and A levels
- vocational courses which train students for careers such as
catering, construction or childcare, often leading to NVQs
- the new 14 to 19 Diplomas delivered in colleges
- leisure and hobby courses, such as photography.
Depending on the subject you teach, you would use a variety of
teaching methods, such as seminars, tutorials and
demonstrations.
Your day-do-day tasks would typically include:
- planning and preparing lessons or seminars
- setting and marking assignments, tests and exams
- monitoring and assessing students’ progress
- developing new courses and teaching materials
- record keeping and other administrative tasks
- attending meetings, professional development courses and
workshops
- interviewing prospective students
- acting as personal tutor, supporting students and helping
with problems
- supervising practical work, work placements or field
trips.
You could teach full-time, part-time (day or evening) or
day-release courses, and could teach in further education,
sixth-form colleges, community colleges, adult education centres,
the prison service and work-based learning settings.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You would need:
- at least a level three qualification (for example A level or
NVQ level 3) in the subject you want to teach – for some
academic subjects you may need a degree
- to complete teaching qualifications which are recognised by
Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK).
The Award in Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning
Sector (PTLLS) is a short introductory course which you
would do at the beginning of your teaching career.
You would then need to take further qualifications, depending on
whether you are aiming to qualify as a 'full' or
'associate' teacher.
The Level 5 Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning
Sector (DTLSS) is the minimum qualification you will need
as a full teacher. It will also lead to QTLS status (Qualified
Teacher, Learning and Skills). As a full teacher, you would have a
full range of teaching responsibilities – your work would
involve:
- using teaching materials you have designed and evaluated
- teaching a range of levels, subjects and learner types
- teaching programmes of varying lengths.
The Level 5 Diploma is roughly equivalent to the PGCE/Cert Ed in
Further Education. Some universities and colleges may carry on
using these titles for their courses, although they will reference
them against the Level 5 Diploma.
The Level 3/4 Certificate in Teaching in the Lifelong
Learning Sector (CTLLS) will qualify you as an associate
teacher. As an associate teacher you would have fewer teaching
responsibilities than a full teacher – your work would
involve at least one of the following methods:
- using packs or pre-prepared materials, with little
involvement in designing curriculum and materials
- teaching on a one-to-one basis
- teaching one particular level, subject or type of learner,
rather than a full range
- teaching short courses (see the LLUK website for
details).
You can go straight onto the Level 5 Diploma without completing
the Level 3/4 Certificate if you want to qualify as a full
teacher.
The qualifications are awarded by City & Guilds, Edexcel,
OCR and a number of universities. See the
Standards
Verification UK website for full details of qualifications and
training providers.
If you started to do qualifications before September 2007, such
as Stage 1 and/or 2 of City & Guilds 7407 (which have now been
replaced), you can get advice from the
LLUK
Information and Advice Service about where you will fit into
the new qualification framework.
You can train to become an FE teacher on a full- or part-time
basis. If you want to do a part-time course and are not already
employed as a teacher, you will need to arrange some teaching
hours. You may be able to do this on a voluntary basis, although
many people find paid teaching work whilst still training.
Under new government regulations, all FE teachers need to
register as members of the Institute for Learning (Ifl). See the
IfL website
for details.
See the
Catalyst website
for details of the new LLUK initiative to help graduates and
experienced managers from all sectors move into the FE sector.
What further training and development can I do?
You could complete a teaching qualification whilst working as a
teacher. To do this you should:
- be well-qualified or experienced in the subject you intend to
teach
- find an employer who is willing to take you on and support
you in working towards qualifications
- complete a teaching qualification within a set time.
As a newly qualified teacher you would need to apply to the
Institute for Learning (Ifl) for Qualified Teacher Learning and
Skills (QTLS) status.
Qualifying as an FE teacher does not give you qualified teacher
status (QTS) to teach in schools. See the Primary and Secondary
School Teacher profiles for more information.
Under new government regulations, you will need to keep your
skills and knowledge up to date by completing 30 hours continuing
professional development (CPD) each year (less if part-time). See
the
IfL website for
details.
Where can I go for more information?
http://www.ucu.org.uk
5th Floor
St Andrew’s House
18-20 St Andrew Street
London
EC4A 3AY
Information and Advice Service: 020 7936 5798
Email:
advice@lluk.orghttp://www.lluk.org
http://www.ifl.ac.uk
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning
adviser, call
0800 100 900 or
use our online
enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at:
www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Qualified FE teachers in colleges can earn from around
£22,000 to £33,000 a year.
- FE teachers in leadership and management jobs can earn from
£33,000 to around £80,000.
FE teachers working in London may get an additional
allowance.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would usually work up to 37 hours a week, with around 25
hours spent teaching. You could also be on a permanent contract to
teach for a fraction of the week (known as ‘permanent
fractional’) or do part-time non-permanent work (for example,
teaching a series of evening or daytime leisure courses).
You could be based in a classroom, workshop or laboratory,
depending on the subject you teach. You might need to travel during
your working day, for example to accompany field trips or assess
students in the workplace.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- extensive knowledge of your subject and the ability to
explain it at a level suitable for your students
- the ability to relate well to students of all ages and
abilities
- enthusiasm and the ability to motivate students
- the ability to express yourself clearly, both in speech and
writing
- creativity to design interesting activities and
materials
- good organisational and planning skills
- patience and a sense of humour.
What opportunities are there?
You could work in colleges of further education, sixth-form
colleges, community colleges, adult education centres, the prison
service and work-based learning settings.
With experience within a college, you could progress to senior
teacher or head of department. As places are limited, progression
is likely to involve moving to another college.
You may find the following links useful for job vacancies and
general reading (links open in new window):
Education Guardian
Times Educational
Supplement
talent.ac.uk
Catalyst –
LLUK recruitment initiatives to help graduates and experienced
managers move into the FE sector
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external
sites.
