Further education teacher

Further education (FE) teachers teach a range of academic, vocational and basic skills subjects to learners aged 16 and over, and may also deliver work-related courses to students aged 14 to 16

As an FE teacher, you'll work with young people and adults across a variety of settings, helping them gain qualifications, develop workplace skills and achieve personal goals. You'll usually specialise in one of three main areas:

• vocational training (including apprenticeships) - preparing students for employment and ensuring their skills meet industry standards
• academic teaching - teaching a range of qualifications, such as GCSEs, A-levels or Access to Higher Education diplomas
• English, maths and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) - teaching essential literacy, numeracy and communication skills.

You might also teach recreational courses for adult learners, covering topics such as art, crafts or local history.

Although you'll mainly work with post-16 and adult learners, you may also teach students aged 14 to 19 taking vocational courses - in these cases, you're often referred to as a trainer or instructor.

Find out what subjects you can teach in FE.

Jobs may also be advertised as further education lecturer, tutor or trainer.

Responsibilities

As an FE teacher, you'll typically need to:

Teaching and learner support

• plan, prepare and deliver lessons across a range of qualification types and levels
• develop new courses and teaching materials, including online resources
• teach groups of learners from different backgrounds, abilities and ages
• assess, mark and monitor students' work and progress
• provide individual support and act as a personal tutor to students
• plan additional help for learners who need extra support
• prepare students for exams and assessments
• organise and assess work placements where relevant.

Administration and wider responsibilities

• interview prospective students
• maintain accurate records and contribute to course and team meetings
• help ensure quality standards by liaising with awarding bodies and keeping up to date with college policies
• take part in events such as open days, parents' evenings, taster sessions and careers fairs.

Salary

• As an unqualified FE teacher, you can expect to earn in the region of £22,387 to £26,281.
• Qualified FE teachers typically earn between £27,786 and £41,905.
• Salaries for advanced teaching and training roles usually range from £41,905 to £47,156, while leadership and management positions can exceed this, rising to over £100,000 at the most senior levels.

There are additional London weighting allowances for those working in inner, outer or fringe London areas.

These salary rates are recommended by the Association of Colleges (AoC) for England but not necessarily agreed by the University and College Union (UCU). For the latest pay information, see the UCU Salary Scales.

Rates for Wales and Northern Ireland are also available on the UCU website, while information for Scotland can be found via the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS).

Colleges can set their own pay levels, however, so these figures should be seen as a guide only. Salaries vary depending on your experience, qualifications, subject area, work setting and location.

Many FE teachers work part time or on a sessional basis and may supplement their income through private tuition, evening classes, exam marking, teaching on residential courses, consultancy or writing textbooks.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Typical working hours for full-time college teachers are around 35 hours a week, which may include some evening sessions.

You'll often work additional hours to plan and prepare lessons, mark work and attend meetings or open evenings, particularly during term time.

There are opportunities for part-time, flexible and sessional work.

What to expect

• Your work will be largely classroom, laboratory or workshop based, depending on the subject you teach. Some subjects will include field trips or study visits.
• Where appropriate, some teaching and assessment will take place on employer premises with students who are on work experience or day-release or work-based learning programmes.
• Jobs are widely available, with opportunities in FE and training institutions in most major towns and cities throughout the UK.
• You'll teach learners from a range of ages and backgrounds, including school leavers, adult returners and career changers.
• You may need to travel between campuses or employer sites, particularly if you teach vocational or work-based courses.

Qualifications

Further education (FE) teachers usually have:

• GCSEs at grade 4 or above or Functional Skills Level 2 (or equivalent) in maths and English
• a recognised teaching qualification at Level 5 or above, or the Level 5 Learning and Skills Teacher apprenticeship
• experience or a qualification in the subject you want to teach.

You don't always need a teaching qualification to start teaching in FE. It's often possible to train on the job, particularly if you want to teach technical or vocational subjects. In these cases, having a Level 3 qualification in a relevant subject and significant industry experience can be enough to get started. You'll typically be expected to complete the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills) within two years of starting work, and some employers may fund part or all of the training costs. Alternatively, you can train on the job by taking the Level 5 apprenticeship.

If you plan to teach an academic subject, you're more likely to take one of the following qualifications, which are underpinned by the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills) requirements, before applying for an FE teaching role:

• Level 5 Certificate in Education (CertEd)
• Level 6 Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PgCE)
• Level 7 Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
• Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE).

These qualifications are usually offered by universities in partnership with FE colleges. You'll usually need a degree to get a place, although this isn't always essential. Depending on your subject, you may be eligible for a bursary to help with training costs - for more details, see funding options.

There is also a targeted retention incentive payment available to eligible FE teachers. Find out more about eligibility criteria.

Courses combine academic study with hands-on experience, including at least 150 hours of teaching practice in two settings. Training also includes an emphasis on digital skills. Some course providers also offer opportunities to train in a specialism such as Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

If you'd like to build your skills before progressing to Level 5, you can take:

• Level 3 Award in Education and Training - an introductory, knowledge-based course
• Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training - develops practical teaching skills.

More information about funding and teaching in further education is available from Teaching in Further Education.

Skills

You'll need to have:

• in-depth knowledge of your subject or professional area
• the ability to design and deliver engaging lessons and courses
• excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• the ability to support and adapt teaching for learners of different ages, backgrounds and abilities
• strong organisation, planning and time management skills
• digital and IT skills, including confidence using online and blended learning tools
• creativity and problem-solving ability
• enthusiasm, motivation and commitment to helping learners succeed
• a collaborative approach and the ability to work well with colleagues and employers
• a commitment to ongoing professional development, patience and a sense of humour.

Work experience

Try contacting the head of department or HR team at your local FE college or adult education centre to ask about volunteer or work shadowing opportunities. This will give you a valuable insight into lesson planning, classroom management and the realities of FE teaching.

Experience supporting or mentoring young people is also useful. Consider youth clubs, sports teams, charities, voluntary organisations, schools or community groups, where you can develop communication, leadership and organisational skills relevant to teaching.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Further education (FE) teachers are employed by a wide range of organisations, including:

• general or specialist FE colleges
• local authorities offering adult education services, often in partnership with FE colleges
• adult and community education centres
• sixth form and specialist private colleges
• adult residential colleges
• the prison service and youth offender organisations
• work-based training providers.
• voluntary and charity organisations
• universities
• international language schools offering English as a foreign language teaching roles.

Many FE teachers have portfolio careers, working for two or more organisations or on short-term contracts while also using their specialist skills outside education.

Look for job vacancies at:

• AoC Jobs
• FE Careers
• FE Jobs
• Jobs.ac.uk
• tes Jobs

Colleges also advertise vacancies on their websites.

Professional development

If you've completed an approved FE and Skills Qualification at Level 5 or higher, you can apply for Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status by completing a six-month period of professional formation. To do this, you'll need to be a member of the Society for Education and Training (SET) throughout the process and maintain your membership afterwards to keep your QTLS status. Check the full entry requirements on the SET website.

Once you've achieved QTLS, you can join SET's Professional Status Register. You'll also be eligible for Qualified Teachers Status (QTS) via QTLS and will receive a Teacher Reference Number (TRN), provided you maintain your SET membership. For more details, see guidance on QTLS and QTS equivalence.

QTLS is only formally recognised in England and may not be accepted by employers in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Check with the relevant professional body in each country for details on how to register as an FE teacher.

With further experience, you can work towards Advanced Teacher Status (ATS) and Chartered Teacher Status, which recognise higher-level professional practice and leadership.

SET offers a wide range of continuing professional development (CPD) resources, events and networking opportunities to help members enhance their teaching skills and stay up to date with sector developments.

Career prospects

With experience, it's possible to progress to roles such as senior lecturer, curriculum manager, head of department or divisional manager, although competition can be strong due to limited vacancies.

Some teachers move into college management, working in areas such as admissions, finance, student guidance, HR or quality assurance. These roles often require additional professional qualifications and attract applicants from both inside and outside education.

You could also take on non-teaching responsibilities, such as a pastoral or admissions tutor role, or train as a Specific Learning Differences (SpLD) tutor, providing one-to-one specialist study support for learners with specific needs.

It may also be possible to move into other branches of education, including higher education, schools or vocational training. If you hold QTLS status through SET, you can work as a qualified teacher in schools - usually teaching technical or vocational subjects at Key Stages 3 or 4.