Wider Professional Practise

“Despite the establishment of the Institute for Learning, teachers/trainers in the lifelong learning sector are far from being autonomous and as such they are not ‘professionals’ in the recognised sense of the word”. Marsh and Taylor (2008: 4)

There are differing perspectives about the professional status of teachers and trainers. One view holds that they are equivalent to doctors, dentists, lawyers, accountants and architects and share the qualities of being a ‘profession’. Conversely others would argue that ‘real’ professional people do not have trade unions as teachers/trainers do. Neither are they subject to the same types of government control (LSC/OFSTED/LLUK/SVUK)

One of the characteristics of a profession is what Barber (quoted by Hughes) called ‘control through a code of ethics emanating from a voluntary association’. Until recently (2007) FE Teachers/Trainers, unlike other professionals such as doctors and lawyers, did not have a single controlling professional body or an agreed code of ethics. Things changed in 2007 with the setting up of the Institute for Learning (IFL) www.ifl.ac.uk .This is now the professional body for all those working in the Life-long Learning Sector. From September 2007 all teachers in the sector are required to register as members of the IfL and achieve a recognised level 5 teaching qualification within 5 years. Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) can be achieved after a period of ‘professional formation’; trainee will need to demonstrate Literacy and Numeracy at level 2 either with an existing qualification such as a GCSE or equivalent or evidence of working at that level. Trainee will also need to produce evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to demonstrate that they remain in good professional standing.

Most professional bodies have developed a code of conduct and disciplinary processes. The IFL has now produced a Code of Professional Practice which any teacher can download from their website....