IfL plan to fast track FE staff for school teaching qualifications

Institute for Learning fights “unjust arrangement” with plan to fast- track FE staff for school-teaching qualifications. FE lecturers could be able to transfer their qualifications to schools using a new fast-track system as early as next year, under new proposals from the Institute for Learning (IfL). With the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) currently consulting on an assessment-only route allowing college staff to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in schools, the FE teachers’ membership body hopes to win support from its schools counterpart. IfL is due to start talks with the General Teaching Council for England (GTC) next month to try to secure agreement on how to end the long- standing inequality over qualifications. While QTS, given to schoolteachers after their probationary year, has always allowed an individual to teach in FE, schools cannot reciprocate for college lecturers with Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) awards. The legislation means they can only be considered unqualified teachers in schools on lower pay unless they retrain, but the two bodies hope to agree on a short assessment programme to make the FE qualifications transferable. Toni Fazaeli, chief executive of the IfL, said: “It’s an unjust arrangement currently. What we hope and what we are expecting is for a rapid assessment route for those with QTLS through to QTS recognition. http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6021574