27,000 practitioners awarded Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills status since its introduction
More than 27,000 practitioners have been awarded Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status since it was first introduced in 2008. As QTLS status marks its fifteenth anniversary, applications for the current cohort remain open, closing on 30 November. The programme will start in January 2024 for successful applicants.
QTLS is a recognised professional status, gained after successfully completing a six-month period of Professional Formation and maintained through membership of the Society for Education and Training (SET). The Professional Formation programme enables practitioners to show progression and commitment to excellence within the Further Education and Skills sector. Practitioners who achieve QTLS status are added to the professional register, where future employers can check their status.
Since its introduction, QTLS has been continuously reviewed, updated and improved. A new application process for QTLS was introduced earlier this year, following feedback from members. More information on this new process, including updated eligibility criteria, is available.
QTLS experiences
Those who have achieved QTLS status since its introduction have shared the wide range of benefits it has brought to their practice.
Teresa Thomas, Professional Status Manager QTLS/ATS, was one of the first in the country to achieve QTLS status. Reflecting on improvements to the programme since its introduction, especially after its significant update in 2016, Teresa said: “Teachers and Trainers are now required to reflect much more deeply on their professional practice and encouraged to consolidate their learning as they embark on their teaching career after Initial Teacher Training”.
Rebecca Rendle, English Teacher at East London Advanced Technology Training (ELATT) shared her experience: “It was a challenging process, but looking back on it today, I remember just how much I did and how it has influenced what I've done since. Undertaking QTLS gives you a structure and impetus and focus to do some proper research, put it into practice, evaluate it, and then change your practice.”
“The QTLS process provided a platform for personal growth and confidence building. By engaging in self-reflection and continuous professional development, it taught me a deeper understanding of my strengths and areas for improvement as an educator. The process allowed me to challenge myself, step outside my comfort zone, and take ownership of my professional development,” said Rebecca Waller-Brown, from Royal Navy training consortium Team Fisher.
Andrei Belikau, Lecturer of Maths at BMET Sutton Coldfield College, reflected on the impact QTLS status has made to his practice: “Achieving QTLS has made me a more reflective practitioner. I can look objectively at my lessons and identify clear areas for development, and then put these improvements into practice.”
Why QTLS?
Andrew Dowell, Head of Professional Status and Standards at ETF, who achieved QTLS himself in 2012, encourages sector managers to get behind their staff and support them to gain QTLS. He said: “QTLS supports teachers’ career progression and their professional development. It’s an opportunity to thoroughly examine their practice against the sector’s Professional Standards and identify their strengths and areas for development so that they can hone their practice and directly benefit learners. Teachers and trainers should apply by 30 November to take advantage of this opportunity.”
Interested in QTLS? Find out how to apply here. Please allow time to complete and submit your application.