The Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training and QTLS

One of the most common queries about the Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training is the relationship it has with QTLS.

What is QTLS - Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills status?

QTLS is a Professional Status recognised in the Education sector, which is gained after successfully completing a six-month period of Professional Formation and maintained through membership to the Society for Education and Training.

The Professional Formation programme enables you to show your progression and commitment to excellence within the Further Education and Skills sector. Once you achieve QTLS, you’ll be added to the professional register where future employers can check your status. Achieving QTLS will also allow you to teach in schools on the same terms as QTS.

QTS is required to teach in a secondary school and QTLS is its equivalence for a college. And quite often colleges don’t require you to have QTLS but its at their own discretion. You can apply for QTLS after you complete the Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (DET) which means you can achieve it without giving up work and going to University. An option most of us don’t have when we get older and have jobs and families to tend to.

If you have no intention in working at a college or a school then QTLS is not relevant to you and no private training providers ask for QTLS.

Are there any benefits to completing the Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (DET) and getting QTLS?

QTLS holders were surveyed and asked about the benefits of QTLS to themselves, their students and the places where they work.

• More than a third (37%) reported that they had moved into a new role since gaining QTLS with almost half (47%) of those who had done so moving to a new organisation and 40% gaining a promotion internally.
• 34% had received a pay rise after gaining QTLS.
• 43% reported Increased job satisfaction and development opportunities due to taking on new responsibilities, and holders also said they were enjoying their roles more and feeling more confident about them.
• Holders also cited a range of positive impacts on their students, including improved outcomes at formal assessments, enhanced self-reflection, and better engagement and behaviour.

Over 24,000 teachers have achieved QTLS since its introduction in 2008.

How to get QTLS

You can only gain QTLS is you have achieved the Level 5 Diploma in Education (DET) or above. The Professional Formation Process takes since months from when you apply and it is about demonstrating your skills and knowledge since you’ve completed your Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (DET). There are 6 steps to gaining QTLS.

1. CHECK YOUR ELIGIBILITY FOR QTLS - The first thing you need to do is make sure you meet the criteria to undertake QTLS.
2. JOIN SET - You’ll need to join as QTLS is open to members only.
3. REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT - Once the QTLS registration window is open you can register and pay for QTLS. Payment can be made by direct debit, one-off credit card payment or by invoice to your employer.
4. NOMINATE A SUPPORTER - Ideally your supporter will be someone with whom you have worked closely and who will have observed your teaching and learning practice. They must also hold a teaching qualification.
5. FOLLOW THE ACTIVITY TIMELINE
6. COMPLETE YOUR ONLINE PORTFOLIO - The last step is to complete and submit your online portfolio with your supporter's guidance, within the time frame.

Does QTLS have parity with QTS in secondary and primary schools?

This is an interesting question and yes it does. It is possible to become a teacher without a degree and gain QTLS. But the question most asked is does this give holders the same status as teachers with QTS?

Government guidelines state that SET members holding QTLS status are eligible to teach in schools on the same terms and conditions as those holding QTS. They are allowed to teach both curriculum and non-curriculum subjects across the breadth of school ages.

Therefore, holders of QTLS are qualified to teach in both primary and secondary schools. They will also be exempt from doing an induction year, as Newly Qualified Teachers with QTS are required to do.

The final decision is left with the schools and local authorities to decide whether an applicant is suitable for the teaching roles.

Some schools will not accept QTLS for qualified teacher roles, as they feel that the training is not thorough enough especially when it comes to behaviour management (one reason why we introduce managing behaviours as a unit in our Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training).

Often secondary schools will require a related degree to teach a specialist subject therefore they will not accept a QTLS teacher without a degree.

Generally speaking, its possible to teach in secondary schools with QTLS but there is no guarantee the school will consider it as an acceptable alternative.