IfL reiterates call for teaching recognition

The Institute for Learning (IfL) has renewed its call for an alignment of further education teachers’ professional status with that of teachers in schools.

According to the IfL, teachers and trainers with Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status should have the same recognition as those with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

The call was made as part of World Teachers’ Day last week, as the IfL paid tribute to around 200,000 teachers and trainers working in FE.

Toni Fazaeli, IfL’s chief executive, said: “IfL regrets that our celebration of World Teachers’ Day has to be muted.

“Under current legislation, excellent teachers of vocational subjects in further education who hold the professional status of QTLS are not recognised as being able to teach in schools.”
Ms Fazaeli continued: “I look forward to when we can all celebrate World Teachers’ Day unreservedly.

“For now, we say three loud cheers for further education teachers and trainers, and no cheers for the extraordinary system that fails to recognise their professional excellence as teachers of young people and their vocational expertise beyond the college gates.” 

Mark Astley