STAFF SUCCESS TO BE APPLAUDED
18/12/08
As far back as 2003 the current government began to suggest that a higher level of professionalism needed to be encouraged amongst all those who taught in the post compulsory education sector. On the 1st September 2007, as a result of lengthy consultations, The Further Education Teachers’ Qualifications (England) Regulations 2007, and The Further Education Teachers’ Continuing Professional Development and Registration (England) Regulations 2007', were enshrined in law. These two pieces of legislation were to have a major impact on the post compulsory sector. The former requires all teachers, tutors and trainers in the sector to achieve what has been termed ‘dual-professionalism’, in other words not only must they be fully qualified in their own specialist subject they must also become a qualified teacher. The latter gives legal status to the Institute for Learning (IfL) which is the professional registration body for qualified teachers in the sector. Essentially, any teacher within the sector who cannot achieve membership of the IfL, or who fails to maintain his or her membership, is not allowed by law to teach in any area of funded post compulsory provision.
As a leader in the field of work based learning provision EAGIT was keen that it would not be left behind when it came to meeting the legal requirements in 2007. In 2004 the company embarked on a rolling programme of development to enable staff to qualify as teachers. It was proud moment for the organisation when on the 1st.September 2007 all of the teaching staff became either full members (fully qualified) or affiliate members (working towards full qualification) of the IfL. In the current year special congratulations are due to Mark Winter, Lee Smith, Gary Davis, Nick Abendroth and Jon Barrett who have been awarded their Certificate in Education by the University of East Anglia. This follows three years of hard study at both Great Yarmouth College and City College Norwich. The personal commitment and dedication to achieve this level of qualification cannot be underestimated. Within the organisation there are currently twenty full time teaching and instructional staff. Ten are now fully qualified and hold full membership of the IfL. Of the remainder, two will achieve full qualification in June 2009, two in June 2010, two in June 2011. Four members of staff are exempt from the regulations by virtue of the number of years of experience they have in the sector but are still entitled to affiliate membership of the IfL and thereby meet the legal requirements. Within post compulsory education EAGIT is recognised nationally as leader in the drive to bring the highest possible levels of professionalism to the sector. This is reflected by the number of requested that are received by the organisation to give presentations at conferences, nationwide, to other providers and groups from the sector.
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