If you’d like to make more of what you know in 2022, look no further. The Department for Education’s new further education (FE) teacher recruitment campaign and digital service aims to attract skilled industry professionals from a number of key sectors – including construction, engineering and manufacturing, legal, finance and accounting, digital/IT and health and social care.
FE is study, usually for learners 16+, that takes place after secondary school in FE colleges and other providers. It can be the next step for young people and school leavers but is equally accessible to adults looking to broaden their skills or change careers. There are a wide range of subjects on offer, with a unique offering of technical and vocational courses that aim to equip learners with practical, work-based skills.
So, if you have industry experience, the FE sector is actively looking to recruit people like you to pass on your knowledge and experience to the next generation of learners, and help prepare them for the world of work.
Sounds interesting? Here are six of the top benefits to teaching in FE …
Your industry skills are totally transferable
Your skills are more valuable than you realise. Real-world industry experience is highly valued for FE teaching roles – in fact, it’s exactly what FE employers are looking for. As many of the courses are technical, they are usually quite hands-on, so you can directly apply your industry expertise to a new role. From practical know-how to workplace etiquette, all are considered to be transferable and relevant to teaching in FE.
You can teach in FE alongside your current job
Industry professionals can continue their current job alongside FE teaching, as part-time and flexible contracts are readily available. Flexible contracts enable FE teachers to continue to stay fully up to date in the industry they’re passionate about while taking advantage of the unique benefits of FE teaching.
In fact, according to the 2018-2019 Further Education Workforce Data for England report, 46% of FE teachers at colleges and 43% at other providers work part-time.
You can earn while you train
You can jump right into teaching in FE. You don’t always need prior teaching qualifications or experience, and funding is available for some subjects so that new teachers can start earning straight away and train on the job. For example, the government-funded Taking Teacher Further programme covers the cost for new industry recruits to undertake training while they work.
You don’t always need a degree
If you want to teach an FE course that relates to your industry – such as an apprenticeship in construction – you won’t necessarily need a degree. The real-world skills you have gained working in the sector can often be accepted in the absence of a degree in your subject area.
You can use your experience to change lives
If you like the idea of changing lives without changing your career, look no further. Becoming an FE teacher means that you will be training the next generation of workers in your sector, and passing on your knowledge and experience to future talent. It can be hugely rewarding and give you the opportunity to make a real difference in both a personal and professional capacity. You can shape the course, showcase your skills and experience, and help prepare your students for bright and fulfilling careers.
There are FE teaching roles, right now, near you!
There are thousands of publicly funded FE providers in England, including colleges, which means there is almost definitely an FE teaching job available somewhere near you. You can also work in adult and community education centres, prisons and youth offender organisations and voluntary organisations. If you’d like the chance to share your skills, what are you waiting for?
To find out more about a rewarding career in further education teaching, head to teach-in-further-education.campaign.gov.uk
