Focus Awards Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills) (RQF)
QRN – 610/5281/4 Fee £72
Qualification Overview
The Focus Awards Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills) (RQF) is aimed at learners working, or wishing to work as a teacher in the Further Education sector.
Qualification Structure
To successfully complete the Focus Awards Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills) (RQF) learners must complete 5 mandatory units. A minimum of 30 credits must be completed from the optional units.
Learner Entry Requirements
Trainee teachers must have achieved level 2 in maths and English when they start this programme. This matches the standard of those completing the Level 5 FE and Skills Learning and Skills Teacher apprenticeship. This means all trainees will have the skills to support their learners in these areas regardless of their training route.
Within the qualification itself is a core unit relating to digital skills and educational technology (effective digital and online pedagogies).
Learners must be:
- be well-qualified or experienced in their chosen subject (or subjects)
- have a high level of literacy, numeracy and technological awareness
- qualifications are available
- a trainee will be expected to teach
- hold a relevant professional or industry-recognised qualification
- have significant experience of working in their sector
- application forms
- references
- results of any entry tests or tasks
- portfolios
- interviews
Centres should not consider FE teaching qualifications below level 5 – for example the Award in Education and Training (AET, level 3), or the Certification in Education and Training (CET, level 4) – when considering APL for qualifications at level 5 and above. These were developed as standalone awards in 2013, and do not reflect the new occupational standard.
This qualification is not designed for those wishing to work as teachers within school settings.
Safeguarding
Teaching in FE can take place across a range of settings and groups, including those who are subject to legal protection through ‘Keeping children safe in education’ (KCSIE) and the Care Act 2014. This will include:- 14 to 16-year-olds in alternative provision
- 16 to 17-year-olds in government-funded colleges
- adults with specific needs
Where trainees are employed as a teacher, either through an apprenticeship or in-service ITE, their employer is responsible for making the relevant checks as set out in part 3 of KCSIE.
For pre-service ITE, where appropriate, Centres should keep in mind statutory guidance, including KCSIE, when carrying out duties, including:
- checking suitability of trainees
- safeguarding
- promoting the welfare of young or vulnerable people
in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children, young people or vulnerable adults.
Centres should be confident that a trainee:
- has not previously been removed from a training programme
- would not have been removed from a training programme by a previous provider had they not left
- convictions
- offences
- cautions
- warnings
- the child protection or vulnerable person policy
- the staff behaviour policy, sometimes called a code of conduct
- information about the role of the designated safeguarding lead, where appropriate
- a copy of KCSIE, where appropriate
- a copy of any other relevant statutory documentation
- remove a trainee from a programme
- have concerns about a trainee
- consider there to be a risk of harm to a child, young person or vulnerable adult
- would have removed a trainee if they had not left a programme
Progression Routes
Learners wishing to progress from this qualification can undertake the following qualifications:- Degree level programmes