Working in FE

Teaching in FE is very diverse profession. FE lecturers may teach in any of the following settings: • General or specialist FE College • Tertiary College • Sixth form College • HM Prisons • Armed Forces Education Centres • Company Training Centres • Other training organisation i.e. Worker’ Educational Association (WEA)

FE lecturers may teach on any of the following type of courses:
• Academic 
• Vocational
• Leisure

These courses cover a wide range of levels from basic skills to HND or degree in a wide range of subjects.

Students

Just as the ranges of courses are diverse so are the students. There is no typical student.
• Students are mainly 16+. There is no age limit!
• Some students who are 14 -19 year olds are based in school but study vocational courses in college. The recent Further Education White Paper, Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances, March 2006, means the number of these vocational courses will increase.

What qualifications are required to become a lecturer in further education?

Most FE Lecturers have a degree in a subject relevant to the FE course they teach, although on some vocational courses, entry into FE teaching is possible without a degree, if the entrant has relevant work experience in the vocational area, however, most new entrants are now graduates.

As well as a degree or relevant experience all new full-time and part-time lecturers are required to hold or work towards a teaching qualification within two to four years of their appointment. These are:

• the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) specialising in FE/post-compulsory
• a Certificate in Education (Cert Ed)
 
These give the lecturer Qualified Teacher in Further Education Status (QTFE) which means they are qualified to teach in the post-16 sector. The one year PGCE (QTFE) course usually takes place in Universities.

This is not the same as Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) gained through a PGCE or a degree with QTS attached, for school teaching. Those with QTS are able to teach in FE but those with QTFE can not work as qualified teachers in schools.

In addition to this lecturers employed to teach Essential Skills under the Skills for Life agenda must work towards or hold a specialist Skills for Life qualification in:
 
• literacy
• numeracy
• English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

These specialist certificates in literacy, numeracy and ESOL may be taken through part-time courses at FE colleges

Part-time lecturers employed on a casual basis with renewable contracts are required to hold or work towards a stage one or stage two teaching certificate, eg City and Guilds 7407, which can be gained through part-time study. This qualification is usually taken through part-time courses at FE colleges
For entry to all courses GCSE grade A-C or equivalent in English and Maths may be required.

Induction for FE lecturers

Once a lecturer has obtained a post they should expect some induction. This should include:

• a mentor to give guidance and advice.
• a Probationary Year first year, during which certain criterion has to be met.
• observed teaching sessions during this probationary period on which written feedback should be given.

All lecturers are expected to take part in Continuing Professional Development.

Career development

Most lecturers start teaching on a casual/part-time temporary contract.
The next step is to gain a permanent full-time or part-term contract.

Lecturers can move up the career path and become:

• advanced practitioners
• senior lecturers
• programme leaders/ course managers
• head of division.

Lecturers continue to teach classes at these levels but gain additional responsibilities.

How FE lecturers differ from school teachers

FE lecturers are often:
• part-time or casually employed on temporary contract
• recruited at an older age
• second careers
• appointed directly from employment out-side education.

The majority of FE lecturers have a degree and teaching qualifications.

Teaching in FE is very diverse so, if you wish to teach students who are post 16, there should be a post to suit the requirement of most tutors out there.

General work activities

The everyday activities of a tutor in FE are similar to those of a school teacher.

• Planning and preparing schemes of work and lesson plans
• Teaching subject to students
• Supporting students
• Monitoring and assessing students’ work
• Record keeping
• Attending meetings
These are the basic activities. As the lecturer gains promotion the range of activities increase.

Work hours

As with everything in FE these vary.

• Full time (around 37 hours a week)
• Fractional or part-time
These are on permanent contracts. A lecturer on a fractional contract works for a fraction of a lecturers’ week. A full-time lecturer works up to 37 hours a week, teaching about 25 hours of this.

• Casual
These lecturers work on an occasional basis, often teaching just one class a week and are paid on an hourly rate.

Fractional and casual lecturers may work for a number of organisations to increase their hours.

Many lecturers teach at least one evening class per week.

Holidays

• Around 37 days plus Bank Holidays to be taken outside term time for permanent lecturers.
• The hourly pay rate for casual lecturers usually contains holiday pay

Environment

Just like all other aspects of teaching in FE, the settings are also diverse.
Teaching can take place in:

• Classrooms
• Lecturer theatres
• Workshops
• Kitchens
• Laboratories
• Demonstration rooms
• Practically anywhere!

Teaching styles/methods

Whatever works best for the group of students!
• Individual, 1:1
• small groups
• whole class
• visual
• aural
• kinaesthetic
• seminars
• tutorials
• demonstrations
• audio-visual presentations