The path to becoming a Further Education (FE) teacher can be a confusing one, yet the routes into the profession can also be tailored to suit a candidate’s experience and qualifications. The Government removed the requirement to gain teaching qualifications for the FE sector in 2013. However, most employers continue to expect that you have…>
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A Practical Guide To FE Teaching: Part Two
Which qualification is right for me? What are the qualifications, how and where do you gain them and how much do they cost? Here we look at the practical elements of each course. Make sure you read part one of this guide for the pathways into FE. FE-specific qualifications These are standalone qualifications which are…>
Are your students understanding the course?
Is progress a synonym for learning? In Ofsted’s terminology, I think it probably is. This might explain why the new FE inspection handbook contains no less than 181 references to the word “progress”. This not only refers to colleges’ progress in response to feedback from previous monitoring visits but for FE teachers, there is a…>
Giving Your Students Feedback: Dos And Don’ts
“Improve drawing, C+”. This was a teacher’s comment on a picture of a lion which I had carefully drawn at age 7 and is a perfect example of poor feedback, with a meaningless grade with no information as to how I should improve. There is a distinction made between formative assessment, or “Assessment for learning”, which involves checking…>
Why Teach STEM In Further Education?
There is currently a significant demand within the Further Education sector for teachers of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). STEM disciplines affect virtually every part of our lives. As an example, our economy revolves around mathematics and our efforts in renewable energy comes from the sciences. STEM skills play an increasingly important role in…>
Working With A CSA: Dos And Don’ts
Working as a Curriculum, or learning support assistants (often abbreviated to CSA or LSA) play a vital role in the life of any Further Education College. Their job is similar to that of a Teaching Assistant in schools and your college may deploy them in various ways. They may be required to work with a…>
Differentiation: an inclusive curriculum
Differentiation is integral to the principle of inclusion – it is about ensuring that all learners can access the curriculum. However, whilst a principled intention of education, it is a complex and often confusing term. The pursuit of accommodating the differences, and resultant needs, of every learner can seem challenging and also raise concerns about how differentiation…>
Working with the Load
Successive government policy reforms over the past two decades have changed the conditions in which teachers teach. These conditions have increased workload pressure on teachers and are a major contributing factor to the current recruitment and retention crisis in the profession. Despite these conditions, most teachers do not leave the profession; they adapt and at…>
How to become a College Teacher?
Being a college teacher can be challenging, but also rewarding. Becoming a college teacher can be exciting and worthwhile as you will gradually become equipped with a vast amount of knowledge and skills. College, or further education teachers teach a variety of subjects to learners aged sixteen and over. They also provide work-related education to students…>
How to Search for Job Vacancies in Further Education
The Further Education sector offers a range of exciting career options. Whether you are interested in administrative support, managerial or teaching roles, there are several schools and colleges you could consider. Here are some tips to help you with your next job search. Decide what roles to apply for Have you been thinking about applying…>