Ascentis Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills)

Qualification Overview

The Ascentis Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills) is appropriate for teachers, tutors, trainers, lecturers and instructors who may be working, or wish to work, within the Further Education and Skills (FES) sector, for example in a Further Education (FE) college, Community Learning and Skills Provider, Offender Learning or Independent Training Provider.

This qualification has been developed in line with the nationally agreed framework for the full teaching qualification for the FES sector and maps to the employer-devised Occupational Standards for the Learning and Skills Teacher (Level 5). The occupational standards were developed by a trailblazer group comprising employer representatives from across the FES sector and were approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE).

This new qualification has been developed for those working or intending to work in the FES sector and to meet the Occupational Standards. This is a subject-specific qualification and will allow trainee teachers (trainees) to teach their subject within the FES sector.

This qualification replaces the Ascentis L5 Diploma in Education and Training from September 2024.

There are several features of this qualification that make it very appropriate for its target audience:

• Verification and certification can be requested throughout the year, allowing maximum flexibility for centres.
• Delivery can be flexible and can be a mix of classroom-based, practical and blended learning. Providers can deliver up to a maximum of 100 hours using online synchronous delivery.
• Evidence can be generated within a wide range of organisations in the FES sector, allowing the qualification to meet the specific occupational requirements of the trainees.
• Completion of the qualification ensures achievement of all the Occupational Standards for the Learning and Skills Teacher.
• Completion of the qualification should allow trainees to move within the FES sector in the future.
• Choice of optional units allows for a more tailored course to suit trainee needs and adds value and breadth to the qualification.

Aims

The overall aims of the qualification are to enable trainees:

• To be able to deliver effectively within their own subject area.
• To understand their learners and learning theory.
• To understand the roles and responsibilities of a teacher.
• To develop their own professional practice in relation to teaching and learning.
• To understand and use effective online pedagogies.

Target Group

This qualification is aimed at a varied audience, including:

• Pre-service and in-service trainees who need a teaching qualification which gives competence against the occupational standards for the Learning and Skills Teacher.
• Trainees working or wishing to work within the FES sector including, Further Education (FE) colleges, Community Learning, Offender Learning, Skills Provider, Independent Training Provider.

Assessment Method

The assessment for the Ascentis Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills) consists of the following:

1. Completion of all five mandatory units, totalling 90 credits, via Ascentis set assessment tasks which are mapped against criteria directly linked to the occupational standards for the Level 5 Learning and Skills Teacher. Trainees must successfully achieve all criteria and, therefore, all occupational standards in order to gain the Diploma.
2. Completion of a choice of optional units, minimum 30 credits, which form an important part of the qualification and add value to the trainee experience and knowledge. These are also assessed by Ascentis set tasks and must be achieved in order to gain the Diploma.
3. Completion of 250 hours of placement activity, of which at least 150 hours are teaching practice. This teaching practice will be documented, and trainees will have at least 10 observations of teaching, each lasting a minimum of 45 minutes. Trainees without the required number of hours of placement and teaching activity will be unable to complete the Diploma.
4. Finally, all trainees must complete a 30-minute oral discussion relating to any aspects of professional practice. The final judgement of this will be that the trainee has or has not met the Occupational Standards. This can only take place once all mandatory and required optional units are successfully completed and the placement and teaching activity complete. The unit ‘Professional Practice’ will be
   completed apart from the oral discussion.