Attention All Post-16 Teachers

QTLS: Are you ready?

'Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills’ (QTLS) status was launched for the post-compulsory education and training sector in September 2007. From that date new and unqualified teachers, trainers and tutors within the sector are required to achieve QTLS status within 5 years. Existing teachers have the opportunity to gain QTLS status through professional recognition of their qualifications and experience.

QTLS status was introduced in ‘Equipping our Teachers for the Future’, the reform agenda for Initial Teacher Training within the  ‘Success for All’ change programme. The introduction of QTLS status has significant implications for:
• Teachers
• Trainee Teachers
• Teacher Trainers
• Principals, Chief Executives and Senior Managers
• Human Resource Managers

Under the new reforms, all new teachers are required to register with the Institute for Learning and achieve a recognised level 5 teaching qualification within five years. Those awarded QTLS status will continue to demonstrate their good standing through a career-long commitment to professional development by completing 30 hrs CPD a year to renew their licence with the Institute for Learning.

General Links to 14-19 Related Websites

The Institute for Learning is the professional body for teachers, trainers, tutors and student teachers in the learning and skills sector; for further information click on the IFL logo:

The General Teaching Council for England is the professional body tor teachers in schools; to find out more, click on the GTCE logo:

Lifelong Learning UK is the independent employer-led sector skills council responsible for the professional development of staff working in the UK lifelong learning sector; click on the LLUK logo for further details:

The Standards Verification Unit UK are the subsidiary of Lifelong Learning UK responsible for the verfication of initial teacher training plus other forms of workforce training and development; for details click on the SVUK logo:

The Learning and Skills Network is an independent not-for-profit organisation committed to making a diffence to education and training; for further information about the LSN, click on their logo:

The Quality Improvement Agency challenges those involved in teaching, learning and training to lift their performance and implement the government's reforms for learning and skills; click on the QIA logo for more information:

The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust seeks to give more young people access to a good secondary education by building networks, sharing good practice and supporting schools; for more details click on the SSAT logo:

The Centre for Excellence in Leadership fosters and supports leadership improvment, reform and transformation throughout the sector; click on the CEL logo for further details:

The Subject Learning Coach website is a portal for managers, teachers and trainers throughout the learning and skills sector to access National Teaching and Learning Change Programme information; click on the QIA logo to access more information: