Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (CTLLS)

We offer a suite of part-time initial teacher training courses for teachers working in the Lifelong Learning Sector.  All of these courses are taught in our partner FE colleges: City of Stoke on Trent College; Newcastle College; Stafford College; South Staffordshire College; Walford and North Shropshire College.

This award is founded upon a uniquely strong partnership with local colleges within the Staffordshire University Regional Federation (SURF) partnership.  This means that you can study at a college close to home.

Sometimes also termed post-compulsory education, these courses are for teachers working in further education, sixth form colleges, school sixth forms, work-based training and adult and community education and training.

All these courses are endorsed by LLUK, the government body that regulates teacher training in the sector and will help you work towards gaining Qualified Teacher Status (Learning and Skills), QTLS.

These courses lead to a set of teacher training qualifications that by government requires teachers in the sector to obtain.  For more information go to LLUK - 'I would like to work in the lifelong learning sector' if you want to work as a teacher in the sector, or to LLUK - 'I work in the lifelong learning sector' if you already teach in the sector.

The course, CTLLS, is for those teachers working in an Associate Role (see above web pages for details) in the Lifelong Learning Sector.

The award is designed to support you in achieving LLUK recognised Associate Teacher professional status as you develop as an excellent practitioner by developing your professional capabilities in becoming a self-evaluative and reflective education professional, planning, resourcing, managing, assessing and evaluating learning in your specialist area, managing the wide range of Lifelong Learners to be found in the sector, growing your understanding of the Lifelong Learning Sector and of how you might play an active role in its future development and working as part of a team of education professionals.  Thus, you will build on your knowledge and experience through study at higher education level in order to enhance your understanding of your current professional roles.  It is designed specifically for people who need to combine work and study.

In addition to working as an Associate teacher in the sector for one year and being observed teaching throughout this time, you will study the following modules.

There are three modules to study.  Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector, acts as a basic, practical introduction to teaching in the lifelong learning sector.  You will be introduced to the roles and responsibilities of teachers in the sector, consider the issues of equality and diversity and be introduced to notions of reflective practice.  You will learn how to devise basic session plans, prepare resources, assess learning against a course requirements, provide support to learners and be made aware of key legislation and to evaluate their work. You will also engage in an observed teaching session and/or in a microteaching session with your peers.

Planning and Enabling Learning builds on the knowledge and skills developed in Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS) by considering further, inclusive teaching and learning strategies, the importance of negotiating appropriate learning goals and ways of developing reflective practice.  You will consider a range of initial assessment methods for example interviews, icebreakers, diagnostic assessment, profiles and explore ways of negotiating individual goals with learners.  You will develop their skills in planning, delivering and evaluating inclusive teaching and learning programmes using feedback from learners and others to inform curriculum development.  You will analyse how new and emerging technologies can enhance the learning experience.  You will investigate communication methods and skills (for example verbal, written and non-verbal communication and transactional analysis) and their importance in teaching and learning.  You will further develop their ability to reflect in order to inform and improve personal and professional practice.

Prinicples and Practice of Assessment will help you consider a range of methods and types of assessment and apply them as approrpiate in practice, demonstrating how different types of assessment can be used to meet the individual needs of learners.  You will be introduced to key principles and processes of assessment showing how they relate to learning and will consider approaches to identifying learners' needs, progress and achievement.  You will review the assessment requirements of a particular programme of learning, conduct an assessment and provide a rationale.  You will also take an additional module in consultation with the college you are studying at.

Once you have CTLLS, and as your role as a teacher grows to become a Full Role, you can progress onto the Diploma (DTLLS) or, if you are a graduate, one of the PGCE awards.

If you are unsure about teaching in this sector, most of our FE partner colleges run taster courses and will provide advice and guidance.

For more information about Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (CTLLS) please contact: