IfL research endorsed in 157 Group leadership of learning publication
17th May 2011
For immediate release: Tuesday 17 May 2011
IfL research endorsed in 157 Group leadership of learning publication
---BEGINS---
The findings of research undertaken by the Institute for Learning (IfL), that leadership has a key role to play in professional development, have been endorsed in a thinkpiece published by the 157 Group and CfBT Education Trust, Leading learning in further education. The purpose of the thinkpiece was to identify the key things college leaders do that have the most impact on the quality and effectiveness of student learning. As its starting point, the paper drew on relevant literature, which included IfL's Brilliant teaching and training in FE and skills: A guide to effective CPD for teachers, trainers and leaders and the 2008-09 IfL review of CPD.
More than 140 IfL Fellows then contributed their views through an in-depth survey, the core of which was constructed around a list of 12 activities identified from the literature review as being strongly correlated with the effective leadership of teaching and learning. The survey was conducted by IfL, as part of its commitment to members having a voice through their professional body, IfL, to influence policy from the crucial perspective of teachers and trainers. IfL Fellows were asked to comment on a summary of the research findings in the light of their experience and to reflect on the effectiveness of the leadership of learning in the further education and skills sector.
IfL's director of professional development, Dr Jean Kelly, said, "As highly qualified and generally more experienced practitioners, IfL Fellows bring particular perspectives as an important part of the whole teaching and training workforce. Respondents described themselves as lecturers, teachers, tutors or managers, and they covered adult and community and work-based learning as well as further education colleges.
"The views of this well-informed sample showed strong agreement about the importance of each of the activities identified from the research literature, and it was interesting to see that activities directly concerned with teaching and learning were deemed less important, especially for strategic leaders, than the overarching priority of setting the vision and goals for the organisation, and particularly setting the organisational tone, with teaching and learning as central. Comments emphasised the need to respect the professionalism and autonomy of teachers, which matches IfL's values and model of professional development."
IfL's chief executive, Toni Fazaeli, said, "As our sector becomes increasingly self-regulated, research into the relationship between effective leadership and high-quality teaching is vital for continuing improvements in teaching and learning. I think it is impressive that so many IfL Fellows gave up their time to take part in this important project and to reflect on and share their experience and views about the importance and effectiveness of specific activities for leaders of teaching and learning."
Lynne Sedgmore CBE, executive director of the 157 Group, said, "As the sector's professional body, with the unique means of communicating directly to teachers and trainers across our diverse sector, IfL has a crucial role to play in garnering the views of England's FE and skills teaching workforce, ensuring that they are heard and that their valuable contribution to important research and policy development is harnessed. The 157 Group and CfBT Education Trust are very grateful to IfL and its members for their significant input to this project, which we will promote to inform leadership across the sector."
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---NOTES TO EDITORS---
Leading learning in further education is available to download in PDF format from the 157 Group website at http://www.157group.co.uk/files/leading_learning_in_further_education_think_piece.pdf
Brilliant teaching and training in FE and skills: A guide to effective CPD for teachers, trainers and leaders is available to download in PDF format from the IfL website at http://www.ifl.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/16400/IfL2010-BrilliantTeachingAndTrainingGuide.pdf
2008-09 IfL review of CPD is available to download in PDF format from the IfL website at http://www.ifl.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/13970/2008-09IfLReviewofCPD.pdf
---About IfL---
The Institute for Learning (IfL) was formed in 2002 by further education teachers, trade unions, employers and others, and is the professional body for teachers, tutors, trainers and student teachers in the further education and skills sector, including adult and community learning, emergency and public services, FE colleges, the armed services, sixth-form colleges, the voluntary sector and work-based learning. IfL supports excellence in professional teachers' and trainers' practice for learners.
All teachers and trainers working in publicly funded further education and skills provision are required to register as members of IfL, undertake continuing professional development (CPD) each year and abide by the IfL Code of Professional Practice.
As a key partner in ensuring an expert further education workforce, IfL is responsible for registering teachers and trainers, for keeping an overview of teachers' CPD, and for conferring the professional licensed practitioner status of Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) or Associate Teacher Learning and Skills (ATLS).
An independent professional body, IfL is governed by an elected Advisory Council, with the large majority from its membership, and works closely with several sector organisations, unions and employer bodies.
---Contact IfL---
IfL press office:
Email [email protected]
Membership and other enquiries:
The Institute for Learning
First Floor
N1 6AH
Telephone: 0844 815 3202
Website: www.ifl.ac.uk
Email: [email protected]
