In terms of variety and sheer breadth of possibilities, the Further Education (FE) and Skills sector is ripe with potential. If you are considering switching to teaching in FE, or embarking on a career in FE, you just might find yourself thriving in this unique sector.
What is the FE and Skills sector?
The FE and Skills sector includes colleges, independent training providers, adult community learning, workplaces, and prisons. They offer a wide range of courses including GCSEs, T Levels, BTECs, apprenticeships, and entry level courses. Subjects taught include agriculture, environment and animal care, digital and IT, emergency and armed services, hair and beauty, legal, finance and accounting, social care, childcare and education, construction, health and life sciences, and transport and logistics, as well as traditional academic subjects such as English, maths, science, social sciences, humanities, art and design and performing arts, among many others.
Nathan Rogan, Senior Education Advisor at the Education and Training Foundation (ETF), feels that teaching in FE and Skills sector can provide a hugely rewarding career path, with the opportunity to support learners from a wide range of backgrounds. He explained, “Whether you are teaching adult learners returning to education to develop their skills, or learners who have just finished secondary education, and are looking to build their futures, no two days as an FE and Skills teacher, trainer or tutor are the same. A career teaching in the FE and Skills sector enables you to pass on your own knowledge and skills, whilst making a real difference to people’s lives.”
The Department for Education states that in order to teach in the FE and Skills sector you need skills, knowledge, and experience teaching your subject, and the willingness to work towards a teaching qualification (or have one already). Industry experience is desirable if appropriate, and relevant trade qualifications may be required. Level 2 maths and English skills are essential so if you do not have them, FE and Skills providers may want to assess your skills and support you to improve them if needed.
The working day in the FE and Skills sector may vary as some teaching can take place in the evenings. It may be possible to have flexible or part time hours. Providers may also vary in their terms and conditions of employment. For example, independent training providers may not follow academic terms.
What is working in Further Education like?
Rogan is positive about the impact that FE and Skills teachers can have on their local communities. He said, “FE and Skills institutions are often a hub of the local community, and the impact you have as a teacher, whether that be helping learners progress to further employment or study opportunities, or helping them to gain qualifications they may not have previously attained, will leave a lasting impact on learners and their communities.”
Kathryn Langford, Lead CPD Trainer at ETF, feels that candidates for roles in the FE and Skills sector can expect a great sense of job satisfaction. She explained, “A teacher or trainer sees the impact of learners reaching their potential and realising their aspirations. You know you are making a tangible difference to people's lives and opening up opportunities. Alongside that broader impact are the everyday wins: those lightbulb moments, the excitement of discovery, sharing knowledge, and helping learners to connect with new topics.”
Often (although not always), being an FE and Skills professional involves working with learners who have chosen to be there, which creates a highly motivated learning environment. Langford explained, “Many FE and Skills courses are designed to meet local, regional and national skills needs so working in this sector has a direct connection to the world of work and it is an opportunity to shape the future of the workforce. Working in FE and Skills is also often flexible and offers a lot of variety. You work with a range of learners with different motivations, needs and aspirations, which keeps the job dynamic and engaging.”
Langford also pointed out that working in FE and Skills gives individuals access to a range of roles. “Classroom practitioners often take on pastoral roles alongside their teaching work,” she said, “but there are also opportunities to progress into curriculum management and development, quality assurance, student support, and external engagement in projects with stakeholders and partners across the community and the sector.”
What support is there for FE educators?
Those entering the FE and Skills sector as a teacher or trainer can expect to be well supported. Langford explained, “Successful practice in FE and Skills relies on maintaining that link to industry, to support progression for learners into the world of work. FE and Skills educators can access high quality CPD from peers, managers, colleagues in the sector and industry partners to enhance their own practices and support career progression. Organisations such as the Education and Training Foundation also offer a range of CPD programmes for FE and Skills practitioners across different areas of need, from support for those delivering T Levels and apprenticeships, to support for English and maths education and for those teaching learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).”
Rogan highlighted that the Education and Training Foundation, through its membership body the Society for Education and Training, offers the Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) programme, which supports new teachers in the FE and Skills workforce to develop their skills over six months of reflective CPD. There are also a number of initiatives, such as Taking Teaching Further, which enable individuals to get into teaching in the FE and Skills sector with funding support.”
Find out more…
Teach in further education - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
CPD in Further Education - The Education and Training Foundation (et-foundation.co.uk)
Home | The Society for Education and Training (SET) (et-foundation.co.uk)
About the author
Elizabeth Holmes
After graduating with a degree in Politics and International Relations from the University of Reading, Elizabeth Holmes completed her PGCE at the Institute of Education, University of London. She then taught humanities and social sciences in schools in London, Oxfordshire and West Sussex, where she ran the history department in a challenging comprehensive. Elizabeth specialises in education but also writes on many other issues and themes. As well as her regular blogs for Eteach and FEjobs, her books have been published by a variety of publishers and translated around the world. Elizabeth has also taught on education courses in HE and presented at national and international conferences.
