Pathway to Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS)

QTLS (Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills) status is the badge of professionalism for the Further Education and Training sector, helping practitioners advance in their careers and demonstrate their expertise and experience to colleagues, employers and learners. SET members can gain QTLS status by successfully completing professional formation.

If you are an experienced post-14 teacher and have QTLS status and membership of the Society for Education and Training, you may be eligible to work as a qualified teacher in schools in England. Since April 2012, teachers and trainers holding QTLS status who are also members of SET have been recognised by law as equivalent in status to teachers with QTS in schools. Holders of QTLS have the opportunity to work in schools on equal pay and conditions, opening up career development and wider employment opportunities.

The overall aims of the Level 4 Diploma in Education and Training is to develop a learner’s practical teaching skills and prepare them to work in a wide range of educational and training contexts.

Mandatory Modules:

• Fundamentals of Education and Training
• Design of Education and Training Resources
• Engaging Learners
• Developing a Work Plan
• Programme Evaluation in Education and Training
• Professional Development and Reflective Practice

This qualification has been created for learners who wish to become fully qualified as further education teachers, with the possibility of gaining the professional status of Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS).

Mandatory Modules:

• Theories, Principles and Models in Education and Training
• Teaching, Learning and Assessment in Education and Training
• Developing Teaching, Learning and Assessment in Education and Training
• Professional Practice in Education and Training

Optional Modules (choose two):

• Action Research
• Develop and Prepare Resources for Learning and Development
• Developing, using and organising resources in a specialist area
• Equality and Diversity
• Inclusive Practice
• Internally Assure the Quality of Assessment
• Manage Learning and Development in Groups
• Understanding the Principles and Practices of Internally Assuring the Quality of Assessment

Professional Formation:

Professional Formation is a post-qualification process that enables you to demonstrate the effective use of skills and knowledge gained in your initial teacher training programme and applied in your current professional practice that is required to be awarded QTLS.

Eligibility:

• Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training
• You need evidence of a Level 2 qualification in maths and English.
• If you teach Maths or English (numeracy, literacy, ESOL, GCSE or Functional Skills) in either the FE and training sector or in schools, you will also need to hold Maths and/or English qualifications at a minimum of Level 3.
• You need evidence of Level 3 qualifications in all the subjects that you teach during the professional formation period.
• You need to hold level 3 or higher qualifications for every subject that you teach. If you are teaching subjects above level 2, then you must hold qualifications at least one level higher than the qualification/s you teach for every subject.
• If you are teaching in a SEN setting, you must also hold a level 3 or higher SEN qualification relevant to teaching learners in the Further Education and Training sector.