NCFE Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills)

Course

The Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills) qualification, which has a teaching/training practice requirement. This qualification is designed to provide trainee teachers with the knowledge and skills to teach in a range of contexts. It has been developed for those intending to work in the post-16 further education and training sector. 

Outline

To be awarded this qualification, learners are required to successfully achieve all 5 units/90 credits from the mandatory units and at least 3 units/30 credits from the 7 optional units.

Placement

The minimum required placement hours are 250 hours. This must include:

• at least 150 hours of teaching practice, of these:
• o at least 100 hours must be in the learner’s subject area
• o a minimum of 20 hours of remote synchronous (live) delivery should be included, alongside a minimum of 80 hours face-to-face delivery

The balance, constituting professional practice, includes activities such as team meetings, planning, interviews, assessment meetings, observations, centre wide sessions (for example, continuing professional development (CPD)). The purpose of the professional practice hours is to gain a full sense of the wider activities of a teacher on a day-to-day basis.

The placement requirement includes a minimum of two locations:

• the learner should gain experience in more than one teaching location.
• The second placement must be for at least 20 hours and ideally would be at a different centre but in extremis at a large centre, could include a different subject area and/or venue in the same centre.
• It should be noted that the 20 hours at the second placement are not specified as teaching hours so could be observation, CPD and other activities to give a sense of the approach within that area.

• The placement should be within a local school teaching 14-plus students, a local sixth form teaching post-16 learners or a local college teaching post-16 or adult learners.
• A Mentor in the workplace who is a qualified teacher/lecturer (i.e. PGCE, Cert. Ed or DTLLs) and where possible is a subject specialist in the same area as the trainee teacher. Where the mentor is not a subject specialist the trainee teacher will require the support of a named subject coach. This staff member must have time to support the learner (recommended 30 minutes per week)
• There must be a minimum of 10 observations to groups of at least 10 learners. This excludes any observed practice completed as part of the Level 3 Award in Education and Training or previous relevant qualifications.

• Any single observation must be a minimum of 45 minutes.
• Up to two observations may be of live remote delivery, one other session may be observed remotely but the arrangements must be made for prompt feedback and discussion.
• The observations should be conducted by the centre tutor and/or the subject specialist/placement mentor.
• A completed Teaching and Mentor Hours form from your workplace which you will be provided with prior to the diagnostic event to confirm both of the above.

Entry Requirements:

• Formal evidence will be required of the following:
• Aged 19 plus
• Resident in the UK
• Level 3 Award in Education and Training (or 6 months experience of relevant teaching experience)
• Level 3 qualification in the subject you would like to teach.
• Learners need to demonstrate an ability to study at level 5.
• Learners should have achieved level 2 in mathematics and English prior to undertaking this qualification.
• A level of competence in digital skills is also required.
• A minimum of 150 hours of teaching spread evenly over the duration of the course where you are responsible for the planning, delivery, and assessment of learning. *The college does not offer a placement service.
• You must be available to attend all classes in person or online as per course requirements. It is not a distance learning course.

Course Outcomes

The NCFE Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training prepares trainee teachers to teach in a range of contexts. There is a significant practice requirement as this qualification will assess, and provide evidence of, competence when undertaking teaching and/or training responsibilities.

Progression

Learners who achieve this qualification could progress to the following:

- Employment: as a tutor within:

• further education colleges
• adult and community education providers
• offender education
• work-based learning providers
• the third/voluntary sector
• independent training organisations

- Higher education

- Apply for Qualified Teacher: Learning and Skills status (QTLS). QTLS is equivalent to but distinct from QTS (Qualified Teacher Status for ages 5-11 or 11-18 in schools).

What are the course outcomes?

The NCFE Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills) prepares trainee teachers to teach in a range of contexts. There is a significant practice requirement as this qualification will assess, and provide evidence of, competence when undertaking teaching and/or training responsibilities.

Who is this course for?

This course is ideal for you, if you are working, or want to work as a teacher/trainer in the further education and skills sector; if you are in or want to start a career in a teaching/training role; if you are a teacher/trainer who is seeking career progression in your area of work; or if you have completed the Certificate in Education and Training L4, or  Level 3 Award in Education and Training and wish to progress.

It can meet the needs of a range of trainee teachers, including:

• individuals who are not currently teaching and training but who can meet the practice requirements, including the observed and assessed practice requirements, of the qualification
• individuals who are currently teaching and training (including those who have just begun teaching and training) who can meet the practice requirements, including the observed and assessed practice requirements, of the qualification
• individuals who are currently working as assessors and who wish to achieve a teaching qualification

Course Content

Learners must achieve a minimum of 120 credits: 75 from the mandatory units and a minimum of 45 from the optional units. At least 61 credits must be at or above Level 5.

Mandatory units:

• Unit 01 Teaching my subject
• Unit 02 Understand learners in the further education sector
• Unit 03 The role of teachers and teaching
• Unit 04 Professional practice portfolio
• Unit 05 Effective digital and online pedagogies

Optional units – will be selected to meet the needs of learners broadly.

Optional units available for this qualification cover areas such as action research, specialist delivery techniques and activities, and ESOL theories and frameworks.

How will you be assessed?

The NCFE Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills) is a competence-based qualification which is internally assessed through a portfolio of evidence and assessment of teaching practice in the workplace which is externally quality assured. 

Equipment Required?

Stationery, computer, or laptop