Following the Foster review in 2005, a DfES consultation on the extension of professional registration and a CPD requirement for all teachers in the sector received widespread support from across the sector, including further education employer bodies and teacher representative bodies.
Much of the work of the Institute for Learning (IfL) is now guided by two sets of regulations that came into force on 1 September 2007:
Under the regulations, all FE college teachers are required to register as members of IfL, undertake CPD each year and abide by the IfL Code of Professional Practice.
Teachers entering the sector after 2007 are required to become licensed practitioners (QTLS and ATLS). There is no requirement for teachers who entered the profession prior to 2007.
Members of the IfL are required to complete and reflect on at least 30 hours of CPD in any one year. Teachers must keep evidence of their attendance and reflection of their CPD. This can be done using the Reflect e-portfolio, although members can use any method to record their CPD but must be able to produce evidence if asked to by the IfL.
Members are asked to declare that they have completed the CPD requirement by 31st August each year. IfL will then verify by sampling a proportion of CPD records by October. The resulting report is scheduled to be published by December of that year.
For further information and details of how to become a member, visit: http://www.ifl.ac.uk/
