IfL and LSIS to lead commission on adult education and vocational pedagogy

2 December 2011

The Institute for Learning (IfL) and the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) will support an independent commission on adult education and vocational pedagogy, which is being established to ensure that there is a clear, sector-owned policy to support outstanding teaching and learning in further education and skills, including making full use of the potential of technology. The commission was announced by the government in a formal response to its New Challenges, New Chances consultation, "Further Education and Skills System Reform Plan: Building a World Class Skills System".

IfL's chief executive, Toni Fazaeli, said, "Excellence in teaching and learning features strongly in the government's strategy document, and we are pleased to see the explicit acknowledgement that outstanding teaching and learning depends on the quality of teachers and trainers, their specialist skills and how they are supported. We have long been calling for an independent inquiry into world-class teaching and training in further education and skills, and relish the opportunity to work with LSIS and others on this commission, drawing on our own and Ofsted's evidence. Now more than ever before it is vital that young people and adults of all ages have access to the best possible teaching and learning, to gain the skills they need for work and well-being, and to contribute to our competitiveness as a nation.

"We agree strongly with the government's focus on numeracy and literacy and its proposals to ensure that proficiency in maths and English is embedded throughout the FE and skills system. IfL is supporting teachers of literacy and numeracy in a number of ways, including through our online communities of practice and our support for members' continuing professional development (CPD). We are concerned, however, that too few literacy and numeracy teachers have the specialist subject teaching qualifications they need, and this is borne out by Ofsted's observation that literacy teaching is better when teachers are properly qualified in the subject.

"We also look forward to working with David Sherlock and Dawn Ward, who will play leading roles in the independent review of professionalism in the further education and skills sector. The importance of a professional teaching and training workforce to the economy cannot be underestimated, and IfL is working hard to help raise the status of teachers and trainers and of vocational education and training, which is central to building and promoting the reputation of the sector."

Lynne Sedgmore, executive director of the 157 Group, said, "We support the establishment of a commission on vocational teaching and learning and would be keen to contribute to its work in whatever way we can. The 157 Group believes that a consistent focus on the quality of teaching and learning is the most important priority for the learning and skills sector. It is essential that IfL, as the professional body for teachers and trainers in our sector, works with LSIS to lead this important work on adult education and vocational pedagogy."

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