Working as a head of department within the further education sector can be both challenging and rewarding in equal measure. As an academic leader you would guide the department’s staff and curriculum whilst also managing the budget to ensure that your department functions to the best of its abilities. You would need extensive experience as…>
Principal of a Further Education College Job Profile
The leading role within further education colleges comes under various names, the most common being a principal, FE director, or head of further education. For the purpose of this job description, we shall be referring to a principal of further education. The principal role requires a proven track record of strong strategic leadership and management…>
Functional Skills Teacher Job Profile
What are Functional Skills? Functional Skills (FS) are qualifications in literacy, numeracy and ICT that equip learners with the practical skills needed to live, learn and work successfully. They are suitable for learners of all ages and are a mandatory part of all Apprenticeship Frameworks in England. They are available across five levels (Entry 1…>
What is the TEF?
In June 2017, the first Teaching Excellence Framework awards were announced to much fanfare. To say the TEF panel’s conclusions were controversial is an understatement. Headline-grabbing comparisons between Russell Group universities and CBHE providers did little to calm the storm, but now things have settled, what could explain why, out of 106 FE colleges with HE provision,…>
How to get to know your colleagues better
A positive and thriving FE work culture does not happen overnight. Investing time in getting to know your colleagues is guaranteed to reap benefits including enhanced productivity. It is widely recognized that relationships with colleagues are hugely important as they contribute to a more positive and dynamic FE climate. Here are some tips which will…>
What makes people in FE happy at work?
Employee happiness has become an interesting topic in recent times. The reason for this is due to the expanding research evidence indicating that when employees are happy, organisations thrive. Most of us seek happiness in all areas of our lives. Since we spend approximately one-third of our lives working, happiness in the workplace is greatly…>
Turning Covid-19 Challenges into Opportunities
Technology has primarily been the fall-back solution to face-to-face teaching until now. Some institutions have integrated technology into course content more than others, realising its potential for differentiation and enhanced learning through flipped classrooms. However, a lot of teachers have had little or no training in teaching online, so they are now learning as they…>
How to progress your career as a teaching assistant
Teaching Assistant (TA) jobs in Further Education (FE) are becoming increasingly popular in the UK. The TA’s main role is to work closely with teachers in the planning and preparation of lessons in order to maximize effective learning opportunities for students. TAs carefully monitor how students complete set tasks and liaise with teachers in adapting…>
How To Make Apprenticeship Training More Valuable
In 2017, the government will push ahead with the new Apprenticeship Levy (AL). This will place more responsibility on larger UK employers to meet the needs of their workforce through modern apprenticeships. It’s hoped the new scheme will encourage more 16-18 year olds into jobs, while giving employers more control over how their apprentices are…>
Avoiding an ‘Us and Them’ Attitude in CBHE
At times, working in College Based Higher Education can feel like an uphill struggle. Trying to maintain academic credibility and a professional perspective can be difficult in the often chaotic nature of CBHE, where many smaller-scale HE providers rely on a minimal number of teaching staff to cover both FE and HE delivery. The pressure…>