The Work
Further education (FE) lecturers teach students over the age of 16. They teach various types of course, including:
- Academic qualifications such as GCSEs/S grades, AS levels, A levels/Highers
- Vocational courses such as NVQs/SVQs which train students for careers such as catering, construction and childcare
- Skills for Life (Basic Skills) courses
- Leisure and hobby courses such as dressmaking, photography and car maintenance.
The work can include:
- Planning and preparing lessons
- Using a variety of teaching methods, such as seminars, tutorials and demonstrations
- Setting and marking assignments, tests and exams
- Monitoring and assessing students’ progress
- Developing new courses and teaching materials
- Record keeping and other administrative tasks
- Attending meetings, professional development courses and workshops
- Interviewing prospective students
- Acting as personal tutors, supporting students and helping with problems
- Making contact with exam boards or local employers.
Some lecturers supplement their income by, for example:
- National exam marking
- Private tuition
- Teaching evening courses.
Hours and Environment
Lecturers' hours can be:
- Permanent full-time (usually up to 37 hours a week, with around 25 hours spent teaching)
- Permanent fractional (permanent contracts to teach for a fraction of the week)
- Part-time (non-permanent work as a visiting lecturer, for example teaching non-qualification evening/daytime leisure courses).
Skills and Interests
To be a further education lecturer you should:
- Have extensive knowledge of your subject and the ability to explain it at a level suitable for your students
- Be able to relate well to students of all ages and abilities
- Be enthusiastic and able to motivate students
- Be able to express yourself clearly, both in speech and writing
- Be creative to design interesting activities and materials
- Have good organisational and planning skills
- Have patience and a sense of humour.
Entry
To be a FE lecturer in England and Wales you need:
- To be fully competent in the subject you intend to teach; and
- Hold, or be prepared to work towards, a teaching qualification which is endorsed by Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK).
You will need to show competence in your subject by having either:
- A relevant academic, trade or professional qualification; or relevant employment experience if appropriate.
To qualify as a permanent full-time or fractional lecturer you can do either a one year full-time or two years part-time:
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) if you already have a degree; or
- Certificate in Education (Cert Ed) if you do not have a degree.
Full-time courses:
- Can be done before starting work as a lecturer
- Combine study with teaching practice.
Part-time courses:
- Can be done before staring work or in-service (whilst working as a lecturer).
- Involve organising some teaching hours for yourself, perhaps on a voluntary basis, if you are not already employed.
Please see the Training section for details of the in-service option.
To be a Skills for Life (Basic Skills) lecturer you will also need subject-specific numeracy, literacy or ESOL qualifications. Please see the Skills for Life Tutor profile for further details.
To be a part-time visiting lecturer you need to complete, or work towards, a Stage 1 and/or Stage 2 Level 4 Further Education Teaching Certificate (QTFE). If you wish, you can then take Stage 3, which is equivalent to a PGCE/Cert Ed.
You can get full details of endorsed FE teaching qualifications and training providers from LLUK. Further education teaching qualifications do not qualify you to teach in primary or secondary schools. Please see the relevant profiles for information on teaching in schools.
New Developments
New qualifications are being developed for post-16 teacher training, based on core and optional units at different levels depending on the teaching role. As the first stage, from September 2007 all new entrants to the sector will need to complete the Level Three Award in Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector. This will provide pre-service or in service induction training. The award is being trialed across England from September 2006. Higher level qualifications will be trialed as they become available. Visit the LLUK website for information.
In Scotland, it is not compulsory to have a teaching qualification, but most lecturers are qualified or are working towards a qualification. You can complete a Teaching Qualification in Further Education (TQFE) at one of three Scottish universities:
- The University of Aberdeen
- The University of Dundee
- The University of Stirling.
This qualification is usually studied part-time whilst in post, so you will need to find a teaching position before doing the course.
In Northern Ireland it is not compulsory to be qualified. The University of Ulster offers a further education teaching qualification.
Training
To complete a teaching qualification in-service you need:
- To be well-qualified or experienced in the subject you intend to teach
- Find an employer who is willing to take you on and support you in working towards qualifications
- Complete a teaching qualification within two years of appointment (or four years if working on a fractional contract).
Please contact LLUK for more details. See Further Information for contact details.
When you are qualified as a lecturer you will need to keep your skills and knowledge up to date, for example by attending in-service training (INSET) days.
Opportunities
Lecturers throughout the UK work in:
- Colleges of Further Education
- Technical Colleges
- Tertiary Colleges (not in Scotland)
- Sixth-form Colleges (not in Scotland)
- Community Colleges
- Private Colleges
- Adult Education Centres
- The Armed Forces
- The Prison Service.
Vacancies are advertised in local and national press.
With experience lecturers could be promoted to senior lecturer or head of department. As these places are limited promotion is likely to involve moving to another college.
It is possible to work abroad for organisations such as the British Council.
Annual Income
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
- Newly-qualified full-time further education lecturers could start on £20,283 a year.
- Experienced lecturers may earn up to £30,705 a year.
- Advanced teaching and training lecturers can earn between £30,705 and £34,566 a year.
Lecturers working in London may get an additional allowance.
Further Information
5th Floor
St Andrew’s House
18-20 St Andrew Street
London
EC4A 3AY
Helpline: 0870 757 7890
Website: Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK)
*Information taken from Learn Direct [External Link]