OCR Teaching in the Lifelong
Learning Sector Qualifications
Overview of the
reforms.
OCR Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector Qualifications
The reforms to Initial Teacher
Training:
• New professional standards for the sector
• A new credit based teacher qualifications framework
• The introduction of professional formation as part of
gaining professional status
• Emphasis on developing skills knowledge and
understanding of the specialist teaching subject or
curriculum area
• Stronger links between providers of initial teacher
training and those responsible in an organisation for
workforce planning and development
• For the full endorsement of course a provider must
achieve the baseline criteria for initial teacher
training.
OCR Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector Qualifications
The overarching professional standards for
all who teach in the lifelong learning sector
• The standards apply to all teachers, tutors lecturers,
instructors and trainers in the sector and map to the
learning outcomes and assessment criteria for the new
initial teacher training qualifications.
• The standards include values, professional knowledge
and understanding and professional practice and they are
identified in 5 domains:
Domain A. Professional values and practice
Domain B. Learning and teaching
Domain C. Specialist learning and teaching
Domain E. Assessment for learning
Domain F. Access and progression
OCR Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector Qualifications
The mandatory units for the new
qualifications.
Introduction of mandatory units:
• Preparing to teach in the lifelong learning sector (P/C/D)
• Planning and Enabling learning (C/D)
• Enabling Learning and Assessment (D)
• Principles and practices of Assessment (C)
• Theories and Principles for Planning and Enabling Learning (D)
The following three units only form the second part of the diploma.
• Continuing Personal and Professional Development
• Curriculum Design for Inclusive Practice
• Wider Professional Practice
The units are mapped to the overarching professional standards.
OCR Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector Qualifications
OCR and the new regulations
• In force from September 2007
• Applies to all publicly funded providers and teachers
who deliver training through LSC funding. This
includes further education colleges, sixth form
colleges, offender learning, community learning and
development and work based learning.
• It is anticipated that other training providers will want
their staff to gain qualifications that are recognised in
the sector. LSC contracts are linked to staff being
appropriately qualified
• Inspection and self- assessment procedures will be
used to ensure compliance.
OCR Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector Qualifications
The PTLLS qualifications
Initial Award for all teachers
(Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector)
• Minimum level 3
• Mandatory 6 credits
• Requires minimum 60 hours of study- 30 hours (minimum)
contact and 30 hours (minimum) directed study
• Free standing or ‘embedded’ as beginning of a certificate or
diploma course
• On starting the course trainees register with the Institute for
Learning (IfL)
• Up to one year to complete PTLLS
• Successful completion leads to a ‘threshold licence to practice’
OCR Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector Qualifications
The PTLLS Qualifications continued.
Every candidate must have:
• an initial assessment of literacy, numeracy and ICT needs and a
plan to address the needs(the minimum core).
• an Individual Learning Plan (to include the plans to address the
minimum core)
• one hour of observed practice – can be micro-teaching.
• mentoring support.
OCR Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector Qualifications
Certificate in Teaching in the Lifelong
Learning Sector (CTLLS)
For teachers in the associate teacher role, CTLLS:
 Is a Level 3 or Level 4 award
 Comprises of mandatory units totalling 18 credits with a minimum of
another 6 credits from selected optional units.
( Certificate can include a maximum of 36 credits. NB: Rules of
combination apply)
 Requires at least a level 3 qualification in the specialist teaching
area (exceptional circumstances can apply)
 Requires trainees to undertake at least 30 hours of teaching
practice
 Requires a minimum number of 3 assessed teaching observations
totalling a minimum of 3 hours. Any single observation must be at
least half an hour.
 Excludes observations completed for the PTLLS award.
OCR Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector Qualifications
CTLLS continued
Teaching practice for regulated roles must take place in
one or more of the following settings:
 Teachers of Skills for Life must be observed by a Skills for
Life specialist
 Mentoring to support the area of specialism
• All centre-devised optional units must be submitted to
LLUK for approval and inclusion in a national bank of
optional units (OCR can assist centres if it considers
the unit to be of value to the sector)
• Coverage of the minimum core must be within the
Planning and Enabling Learning Unit
• Achievement of the award entitles a teacher to apply
for the status of Associate Teacher, Learning and
Skills (ATLLS), from the IfL.
OCR Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector Qualifications
Diploma in teaching in the lifelong
learning sector (DTLLS)
For teachers in the full teacher role, DTLLS:
• Is offered at a minimum of level 5
• Is a 120 credit award (50% of which can be offered at level 4)
• Requires part one units be delivered before part 2 units.
• Requires the trainee teacher to undertake at least 150 hours of
teaching practice
• Requires a minimum of 8 observations totalling a minimum of 8
hours. Any single observation must be a minimum of one half
hour. These must not include those completed for PTLLS
• Requires at least a level 3 qualification in the specialist teaching
area (exceptional circumstances can apply)
• Requires Teachers of Skills for life must be observed by a Skills
for life specialist
• Requires Mentoring to support the area of specialism
OCR Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector Qualifications
DTLLS continued
• All centre devised optional units must be submitted to
LLUK for approval and inclusion in the national bank
of optional units. (OCR can assist centres if it
considers the unit to be of value to the sector)
• Rules of combination for the optional units apply
• A teacher can apply to the IfL for the status of
Qualified teacher, Learning and Skills Sector
(QTLLS) once they have:
 achieved this award
 completed a period of professional formation
 have evidence to prove the achievement of at least
level 2 personal skills in literacy, language, numeracy
and ICT.
OCR Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector Qualifications
Responding to the sector’s need
The new qualifications framework recognises the career
pathways of teachers in the sector and employers' needs:
• sets out the roles and responsibilities of an ‘associate teacher’
and a full teacher (an associate teacher is not a learning support
assistant. There will be separate qualifications for learning
support staff from September 2008)
• encourages the development of optional units that reflect the
needs of the sub sectors within the further education sector. This
will enable training to be contextualised. The ‘one size fits all’
approach should come to an end
• introduces a credit and transfer agreement. This should enable
trainees and employers to build their qualifications with
providers who can respond to their needs. It applies to all
providers of initial teacher training in the sector
OCR Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector Qualifications
Responding to the sector’s needs
(continued)
• 1 credit equals ten hours of work. The general guidelines are
that five hours should be taught and five hours based on self
supported study, thus ensuring consistency across the awards.
• Agreed that a trainee can take up to one year from the date of
appointment to achieve the initial award and five years from the
date of appointment to complete the certificate or diploma
• Agreed that for existing staff who wish to apply to the IfL for
ATLS or QTLS there are arrangements being developed for
APL/APEL and a tariff of legacy qualifications. This tariff will
include overseas qualifications. These arrangements will
enable the identification of the ‘gaps’ that exist in an individual’s
existing qualifications and training so they know what more they
must do to achieve ATLS or QTLS
 OCR has provided documentation that maps existing FE
qualifications to the new standards for APL purposes
• Provides a range of pathways that have been developed for
Skills for Life teachers.
OCR Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector Qualifications
The impact of the reforms
• The 2002-2003 Ofsted inspection survey of initial
teacher training for the further education sector
identified a number of weaknesses in provision
• Equipping or Teachers for the future was the DfES
response to the inspection report. It was produced
after extensive consultation with the sector. It set out
the need for a ‘step change’ in the quality of initial
teacher training for the sector as a whole. This would
include all providers who were funded by the LSC to
ensure that all learners in the sector are taught and
trained by appropriately qualified teachers.
• The impact of the reforms will be monitored by the
inspection process using the inspection framework
for initial teacher training.
OCR Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector Qualifications
OCR’s Response to the New Standards
and their implications
• The development of coherent programmes of
study for the award.
• Comprehensive guidance for Centres and
trainee teachers.
• A range of teaching and learning materials
with clear links to learning outcomes,
assessment criteria, Goldust resources and
materials developed directly by OCR.
• Support from experienced professional staff.
OCR Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector Qualifications
For further information and
advice
OCR dedicated website:
www.lifelonglearning.ocr.org.uk
LLUK Information and Advice:
www.lifelonglearninguk.org
Institute for Learning:
www.ifl.ac.uk
OCR Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector Qualifications