Our Education and Training (QCF) suite of qualifications are designed to guide you from initial teacher training through to fully qualified.

Achieving these qualifications will provide sufficient evidence that the learner has acquired the necessary skills and knowledge to prepare, plan, deliver and evaluate teaching, training and learning sessions, in a variety of teaching or training contexts.

The introductory, knowledge-based teaching qualification has no minimum teaching practice requirement (level 3 award). Therefore, it may be undertaken by individuals who are not in a teaching role. However, there is a minimum requirement to take part in micro–teaching.

Level 4 and 5 have teaching hours attached to them and so a training or teaching role must be undertaken to ensure passing these qualifications.

These awards meet the needs of a range of trainee teachers and trainers in industry, including:

• develop knowledge related to teaching, training and learning
• develop skills in teaching, training and learning
• achieve a nationally-recognised qualification
• develop their own personal growth and engagement in teaching and learning.

The purpose of a specification is to set out:

• the qualification’s objective to meet the requirements for those in the further education sector
• any other qualification which a learner must have completed before taking the qualification
• any prior knowledge, skills or understanding which the learner is required to have before taking the qualification
• units that a learner must have completed before the qualification will be awarded
• any other requirements which a learner must have satisfied before the learner will be assessed or before the qualification will be awarded
• the knowledge, skills and understanding which will be assessed as part of the qualification (giving a clear indication of their coverage and depth)
• the method of any assessment and any associated requirements relating to it
• the criteria against which learners’ level of attainment will be measured (such as assessment criteria)
• any specimen materials
• any specified levels of attainment.

In the qualifications there are units included that were developed for other qualifications, such as those for learning and development (competence). These units are

• appropriate alternatives for the many related roles undertaken by teachers, tutors
• and trainers particularly in work based learning.
• For the purposes of this suite of initial training qualifications, the following terms are used:

• tutor – the person delivering/facilitating the teacher education, they may also be referred to as teacher or trainer
• learner – the person taking the qualification
• student – the person being taught or assessed by the learner
• practitioner – anyone with a learning and development responsibility as the whole of or as part of their role.