IfL congratulates WorldSkills winners and their teachers

Tuesday 11 October 2011

The Institute for Learning (IfL) offers its congratulations to the 43 young people who represented the UK at WorldSkills London 2011 last week, and their teachers.

IfL’s chief executive, Toni Fazaeli, said, “We offer very loud and resounding cheers to the medal winners; we salute them for their incredibly hard work and for representing their country with such professionalism. This is a proud day for their teachers, colleges, learning providers, employers and fellow learners – and for all of us in the further education and skills sector.

“As the professional body for teachers and trainers – with some 80,000 members who have renewed so far this year – it is fitting that IfL should pay a special tribute also to the professional teachers and trainers who dedicated themselves to helping the competitors attain the highest possible standards in their chosen skill area. The partnership between learner and teacher is central to achieving true excellence.

“Several of the teachers, IfL members, have taken the time to tell us about their experience of coaching, training and working with the learners chosen to represent the UK this year. Common themes are the importance of subject-related continuing professional development (CPD) and  the broader set of skills that teachers need to help coach and support learners to stay highly motivated, whatever the twists and turns during competitions, while they are feeling under pressure. As dual professionals, teachers have to stay up-to-date in their specialist area, as well as in teaching and support methods.

“WorldSkills London 2011 brought alive very powerfully that there is, and must be, parity of recognition and value between vocational and academic learning. WorldSkills must have raised the profile of vocational training; the excellent careers available; and the important contribution that brilliant teachers and trainers in our further education sector make to the economy. When ‘Britain’s got plumbers’ is on prime time television and grips the nation, we will know that vocational skills are getting their proper place as the jewel in our national crown.”

Read about IfL’s interviews with teachers and trainers who helped the WorldSkills competitors