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Skills Commission Inquiry into Teacher Training in Vocational Education
Overview
Teacher Training in Vocational Education is the product of a six month inquiry undertaken by the Skills Commission, which was chaired by Sir Mike Tomlinson CBE. The Inquiry examined initial teacher training and continuing professional development for teachers of vocational education in schools, further education and higher education.
The purpose of the Inquiry was to ask a critical question: is their now a mismatch between teacher training and the education system as it is evolving? Specifically the Inquiry set out to examine whether teachers are being trained with the skills to deliver the emerging vocational curricula that is now at the heart of 14-19 education.
Key issues
• Teachers of vocational pathways in schools are not required to have experience in, or expertise of, the vocational pathway.
• Teachers in further education who have the experience and expertise to teach the vocational curriculum, but who do not have Qualified Teacher Status, can only be employed as an instructor on a lower salary in schools.
• The raising of the statutory education leaving age to 18 years-old in 2015 will lead to an increased demand for high quality vocational education and training.
• There is a lack of understanding of vocational and applied pedagogies.
Key recommendations
• Government should introduce a unified teacher training system and a ‘universal QTS’ for all teachers across 14-19 education.
• Government should establish an institutional mechanism for accrediting prior experiential learning.
• Long-term, ring-fenced funding should be made available for training mentors for newly qualified teachers.
• Continuing professional development should be an entitlement for all teachers.
• An incentives scheme should be developed to help employers provide placement schemes for teachers of vocational education.
• Research into vocational pedagogy should become a research priority for the sector.
The report was launched at a reception on the House of Commons Terrace, which included speeches from Ian Wright MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for 14-19 Reform; John Hayes MP, Conservative Shadow Minister Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education; and David Laws MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families.
Media coverage of the report:
Read FE Focus article
Read FE focus editorial
Read Independent article
Read SecEd article
Read Daily Telegraph article
Teacher Training in Vocational Education is the product of a six month inquiry undertaken by the Skills Commission, which was chaired by Sir Mike Tomlinson CBE. The Inquiry examined initial teacher training and continuing professional development for teachers of vocational education in schools, further education and higher education.
The purpose of the Inquiry was to ask a critical question: is their now a mismatch between teacher training and the education system as it is evolving? Specifically the Inquiry set out to examine whether teachers are being trained with the skills to deliver the emerging vocational curricula that is now at the heart of 14-19 education.
Key issues
• Teachers of vocational pathways in schools are not required to have experience in, or expertise of, the vocational pathway.
• Teachers in further education who have the experience and expertise to teach the vocational curriculum, but who do not have Qualified Teacher Status, can only be employed as an instructor on a lower salary in schools.
• The raising of the statutory education leaving age to 18 years-old in 2015 will lead to an increased demand for high quality vocational education and training.
• There is a lack of understanding of vocational and applied pedagogies.
Key recommendations
• Government should introduce a unified teacher training system and a ‘universal QTS’ for all teachers across 14-19 education.
• Government should establish an institutional mechanism for accrediting prior experiential learning.
• Long-term, ring-fenced funding should be made available for training mentors for newly qualified teachers.
• Continuing professional development should be an entitlement for all teachers.
• An incentives scheme should be developed to help employers provide placement schemes for teachers of vocational education.
• Research into vocational pedagogy should become a research priority for the sector.
The report was launched at a reception on the House of Commons Terrace, which included speeches from Ian Wright MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for 14-19 Reform; John Hayes MP, Conservative Shadow Minister Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education; and David Laws MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families.
Media coverage of the report:
Read FE Focus article
Read FE focus editorial
Read Independent article
Read SecEd article
Read Daily Telegraph article
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