Teachers and trainers receive awards at the House of Commons

Monday 13 December 2010

More than 100 members of the Institute for Learning (IfL) gathered at the House of Commons on Thursday 9 December 2010 to receive their Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) or Associate Teacher Learning and Skills (ATLS) awards. The ceremony was hosted by Sajid Javid, member of parliament for Bromsgrove and parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to the FE and skills minister, John Hayes MP, who gave the keynote address. So far, 3,102 awards have been made, and thousands more IfL members have expressed an interest in or are already part way through attaining QTLS or ATLS.

Toni Fazaeli, chief executive of IfL, said, “Our congratulations go to all those who have attained QTLS or ATLS status through the rigorous process of Professional Formation, over the last few months more than one thousand teachers and trainers from the diverse further education and skills sector. We are pleased that so many of them, representing FE colleges, adult and community learning, the armed forces, work-based learning and the voluntary sector, can be here with us today, and with the minister, to receive their awards in person. This is a proud day for our sector.”

John Hayes said, “The status of teachers in post-compulsory education should reflect their considerable impact on individuals, society and the economy, but the importance of their role has not always been fully acknowledged. By increasing the number of teachers and trainers gaining full professional status, the Institute for Learning is starting to rectify this.

“Attaining QTLS or ATLS status plays an invaluable role in demonstrating the professionalism of FE teachers and trainers. I hope more people within the sector will strive towards it.”

Natasha Rear, a programme leader for initial teacher education at New College Nottingham, said, “I now use my knowledge and understanding of the Professional Formation process to support the trainee teachers I teach to develop their practice and gain QTLS for themselves. I am proud to work in this sector, enjoy being part of IfL and value my QTLS award.”

Michael Woods, an air purification instructor with the Royal Navy, said, “As a serving member of the engineering arm of the Submarine Service, I was honoured to be selected to teach and inspire the next generation of submariners. I now teach submarine air purification to junior and senior serving submariners at HMS Sultan. My passion for lifelong learning has taken me in all directions: engineering, management and teaching, to name a few. The award of QTLS recognises those achievements, and I feel honoured that a national institution, IfL, has recognised my professionalism, motivation and desire to always give my best to my students.”

Julia Semmence, a practice development manager at East Anglia Children’s Hospices in Cambridge, said, “I think it is really important that workplace training is valued, but equally that the trainers are supported and have the skills to deliver learning opportunities that promote excellence in their field of practice. IfL highlights this importance and the diverse range of people involved in education. As a member, I would want to actively encourage and support my teaching colleagues to undertake teacher training and gain their qualification – I also think this should continue to be supported by the government, as we are developing the skills of the current and future workforce.”

Paulette Kupiec, an employability skills coordinator for Shropshire Council’s County Training, said, “Completing Professional Formation has enabled me to prove to myself and others that I meet the professional standards of the role and confirm that I am an effective teacher. It has given me the confidence to know that I can make a difference to someone’s life in a very positive way, and that through CPD, I can find new ways to develop and craft my teaching skills further.”

Simon Thomas, an engineering teacher at Walford and North Shropshire College, said, “Having professional status reassures our partner schools that we have monitored our own quality assurance, by achieving QTLS, to provide the best service for the partner school pupils we teach.”

Steve Mapplebeck, electrical team leader for VT Flagship, part of Babcock International Group, said, “Achieving this professional qualification gives those I am working with tremendous confidence in my ability to support and mentor them, both during their teacher training and in their day-to-day work.”

Sheila Thorpe, an advanced practitioner in health and social care at Chichester College, said, “I have recommended the completion of QTLS to peers and have supported colleagues in the practical undertaking of the process to fulfil their tasks. The system is user-friendly and helpful, and I was extremely proud to be successful. This was a very worthwhile and illuminating experience, which I would recommend unreservedly.”

Vaughan Minshull, assistant faculty manager at Leeds College of Building, said, “Attaining professional status is exciting and rewarding, not only for the individual but for the FE institution they work for and the FE sector as a whole, in that it constitutes recognition of the high standards, values and quality of vocational teaching in FE today.”