LSIS: FE teacher training given full support with help on fees

The Learning Skills and Improvement Service (LSIS) has confirmed the establishment of a brand new initiative, which contributes funding to the costly and rising fees of teacher training within the FE sector.

Rob Wye, chief executive of LSIS, has stressed that “skilled and qualified teachers are the lifeblood of the FE sector”.

LSIS’ Initial Teacher Training (ITT) Fee Awards programme is overseen by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS).

It sees teachers-to-be given £1,500 towards learning and gaining knowledge of basic English/literacy and Maths/numeracy skills. A further £1,000 given to those teachers who concentrate and educate 16-18 year olds in other subjects. The only stipulation is that the trainee teacher must have a Higher Education institution approved qualification.

Fee awards are available for those teachers embarking on the trainee scheme in the 2012/2013 academic year. On top of this support, those entering the second year of training will still receive a £400 grant from BIS.

Wye continued: “Teachers in further education are shaping the future workforce of every sector in the English economy. I am delighted that we are now able to support the training of teaching these vital skills”.

Natasha Spencer