LLUK has, after extensive research, identified two distinct teaching roles in the Lifelong Learning Sector: the Full Teacher Role and the Associate Teacher Role.
It is these roles and the responsibilities they entail that will be important in identifying the appropriate qualifications for candidates to take.

The full teacher role

This is defined by LLUK as all those entering the profession who take on the full responsibilities of a teacher in the Learning and Skills sector. This is performed by someone who teaches:
• using materials they have designed and evaluated
• across a range of levels, subjects and learner types
• across or contributes to a range of programmes of varying lengths

The associate teacher role

This is defined by LLUK as carrying fewer teaching responsibilities than the full role, but the quality of teaching is expected to be of an equally high standard. Someone is deemed to be in an Associate Teacher Role if their role and responsibilities are to teach predominantly in at least one of the following ways:
• from packs/pre-prepared materials, and therefore has fewer responsibilities
• in design of curriculum and materials
• on a one to one basis
• a programme confined to a particular level/subject/type of learner (i.e. does not develop or deliver a full range across a curriculum area) short courses.

TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK FOR THE LIFELONG LEARNING SECTOR IN ENGLAND

Please note: It is recognised by LLUK that a range of terminology is used to represent the work of those who teach in the sector. The word teacher is used throughout this document as a generic term to represent teachers, tutors, trainers, facilitators, instructors, lecturers, practitioners.

Overview
From September 2007, all new entrants to teaching in the sector will be required to complete a new award which will prepare them to teach. This is a small introductory course which will give a threshold status to teach. It will be mandatory for any new teacher who teaches publicly funded provision. Those for whom teaching/ tutoring/ training is their major role, will be required to progress to a further qualification appropriate to role.

New qualifications have been developed based on the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) model i.e. credit based with core and optional units at different levels, so that qualifications can be built flexibly and in a way that can meet the range of needs in the sector.

The teaching qualifications which have been developed are*:

Level Three / Four Award in Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector – 6 credits
Level Three / Level Four Certificate in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector – minimum 24 credits
Level Five / Six / Seven Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector – 120 credits

The Level Three / Four Award in Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (formerly known as the ‘Passport’), has been tested and trialled since September 2006 in England. This award has been designed to provide either pre-service or in service (induction) training, with a minimum of 30 hours of guided learning and an additional 30 of self directed study. Further tests and trials are intended to begin during this month, of both the level three and level four award.

The Level Three / Four Certificate in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector is a new qualification to represent the associate teacher role, that is a teaching role with fewer responsibilities, as described in the interim guidance for awarding institutions (available to download from the LLUK website). LLUK will also be testing and trialling this qualification from March, both as a general qualification and contextualised e.g. for Centrex police training.

The Level Five / Six / Seven Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector is the equivalent qualification to the Certificate of Education/ Professional or Post Graduate Certificate of Education. The qualification representing the full teacher role, gained at level five and above, will lead to QTLS status – Qualified Teacher, Learning and Skills. To gain QTLS status, new teachers will provide evidence of effective professional practice, and maintain ‘good standing’ through recorded continuing professional development (CPD).

Ongoing Consultation and Development
Research has identified that there are a number of teacher related roles within the sector. Consultation will be continuing during 2007 with stakeholders, so that these roles can be clarified and accurately represented by appropriate qualifications, which might take the form of mini-awards to recognise specific roles e.g. Assessor, or be made up of a combination of credits gained within the teacher qualification framework and credits from other related frameworks e.g. Management and Leadership, Supporting Learning, to form customised qualifications which reflect the role undertaken.

Accreditation of Prior Learning and Exemption
There will be a system in place to recognise existing teacher qualifications, to eradicate the need for people to repeat work already completed, and to identify gaps where they occur.

7303 Level 3 and 4 Award in Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS)
This is an introductory qualification that will confer a ‘threshold license to teach’. All new teachers in the learning and skills sector must complete this qualification.
The qualification is already available from City & Guilds at level 3 and level 4. Centres may deliver the qualification at either or both levels, according to the needs of their learners. The level of the qualification is determined by the assessment criteria and assignments, rather than the learning outcomes or indicative content. This means, in practical terms, that the delivery of the qualification will be the same for levels 3 and 4; the level achieved will be derived from the assessment undertaken and the result achieved. For guidance on levels, please see the appropriate section of the Guide for Centres.
The Award comprises one unit, entitled ‘Preparing to teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector’. It has a value of six credits. It will consist of 30 contact and 30 non-contact hours.
It is based on the teaching/training cycle and is assessed by two assignments, one theory and one practical, both of which are broken down into smaller, prescriptive assignment tasks.

How to get ahead !!

A2Z Security Group, working as an Associate Training Organisation with Bob Jefford Associates, has gained approval to deliver the City and Guilds 7303 Level 3 Award now.

We will no longer be offering the C & G 7302 and we strongly recommend anyone who is considering entering the training profession to gain the 7303 rather than the soon to be obsolete 7302.

Trainers who have gained a ‘7302’ qualification with A2Z Security Group in the past 18 months, we recommend you update your qualification to a City and Guilds 7303 now. We can help you to do this with a little extra work and at minimum cost.

For further information please email enquiries@a2zsecuritygroup.com  or telephone 01722 427279.