Teacher Training in Vocational Education: Seminar Report

January 2011

In March 2010, the Skills Commission published Teacher Training in Vocational Education. The report was the product of a six month inquiry, chaired by Sir Mike Tomlinson, that examined the initial teacher training and continuing professional development of teachers of vocational education in schools and further education. The report called for an overhaul of the current training system and the introduction of a ‘Universal Qualified Teacher Status’.

In December, the Associate Parliamentary Skills Group and National Skills Forum held a seminar, chaired by the Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Margaret Sharp to consider the recommendations of the Skills Commission report in light of recent developments. Since the report’s publication a number of key reforms have been announced that will impact on the education and skills sectors, such as the schools white paper, the skills strategy, and the Government’s current review of 14-19 vocational education.

A seminar report, which we are publishing today, provides an account of discussion at the seminar, which was attended by parliamentarians, academics, teachers and other representatives from the schools and further education sector. The report considers the following questions:

•    Does vocational education require a wider approach to recruitment and a flexible system of entry?
•    How do we ensure individuals with specialist vocational knowledge and authentic experience are able to move into the teaching profession without unnecessary obstacles, whilst still ensuring quality and pedagogical expertise?
•    How do we ensure that teachers have access to continuing professional development opportunities so that they can keep up to date with new practice in their vocational field?
•    Do we need to develop a better understanding of vocational and applied pedagogies?
•    Will the cuts announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review make it more difficult for individuals to train to become a teacher in further education?

The seminar report is available to download here.