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Further education teaching professional

Between 2006 and 2009, 2.1% of employed doctoral graduates, or 300 employed doctoral graduates, are known to have been working as further education teaching professionals  six months after graduation.

Job description

Further education lecturers are classified in the ‘other teaching occupations' doctoral employment cluster

Further education (FE) lecturers are responsible for teaching one or more subjects in any of the following settings:

  • a general or specialist college of FE
  • sixth form colleges
  • adult and community education centres
  • universities
  • prisons and youth offender organisations
  • voluntary and charity organisations
  • work-based learning

Although FE lecturers work mainly with post-16 and/or adult learners, they are increasingly expected to work with younger learners within the 14-19 year-old curriculum. They teach at all levels, from entry level to foundation degrees and professional qualifications. Courses may lead to general, vocational, or academic qualifications which prepare students for work, higher education (HE), or may support personal interest.

Typical work activities

Typical activities include:

  • Planning and preparing lessons, teaching large and small groups of learners from a range of backgrounds, abilities and ages
  • Researching and developing new topics, courses and teaching materials, including online resources
  • Maintaining accurate records and monitoring students' progress
  • Monitoring, assessing and marking students' work, setting and overseeing examinations and liaising with awarding bodies to ensure quality standards are met, carrying out a pastoral role as a personal tutor to students
  • Conducting tutorials on a one-to-one basis with learners and planning additional support for students, as necessary
  • Contributing to course team meetings to monitor, review and evaluate relevant courses
  • Interviewing potential students and conducting diagnostic assessments as necessary
  • Liaising with other educational professionals and organisations
  • Organising work experience and carrying out learner assessments in the workplace, as appropriate

Entry requirements

This area of work is open to graduates and doctorates with a qualification in their specialist subject.

Since September 2007, all new teachers entering the further education sector in England and Wales are required to obtain the following initial teacher training (ITT):

  • Certificate in Teaching in the Lifelong Sector (CTLLS)
  • Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (DTLLS)
  • Certificate in Education/ Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (Cert Ed or PGCE) within the FE sector

Teachers choose between the diploma, which is a teaching qualification, equal to the PGCE/Cert Ed, or the certificate, depending upon their role.

Salary

  • Range of typical starting salaries is £18,030 (unqualified lecturer) to £22,857 (qualified lecturer) (salary data collected November 2009). These are rates recommended by the University and College Union, however colleges are able to set their own salary scales and many do.
  • Typical salary at senior lecturer level, after several years' experience is £34,587 (salary data collected November 2009).

Sector and disciplinary information

Sector information

Doctoral graduates from 2006-9 working in this occupation were known to be employed in the further education sector six months after graduation

Disciplinary background

The most common disciplinary backgrounds for doctoral graduates (2006-2009) entering further education teaching were:

Career stories

Professor Graham Rogers taught engineering in FE and HE before progressing to current position as Dean of Faculty in the Technology Innovation Centre at the University of Central England in Birmingham.

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