QTLS Podcast

1. What is QTLS?

• QTLS stands for Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills.
• It is a professional status, not a course or qualification, achieved after a developmental programme called “professional formation”.
• As it is a professional status, it works differently from a typical course or qualification, e.g.: no guided learning hours, tutorial support or formative assessment during the programme. 
• The programme is forward-looking and self-driven, with the help of a supporter appointed by the applicant within their organisation.

2. Who is QTLS for?

• Teachers and trainers who wish to demonstrate how they continue to develop their practice in the FE and Skills sector.
• Although popular with early career teachers, it is also suitable for experienced teachers within the sector.
• It is important for all potential QTLS candidates to read the eligibility requirements on the Society for Education & Training (SET) website to ensure they are suitable to pursue the status: QTLS eligibility criteria

3. How does QTLS compare with QTS?

• QTLS is a professional status for teachers working in the FE and Skills sector, while QTS has a focus on schools.
• QTLS has legal parity with QTS, and therefore FE teachers who hold QTLS and are members of SET, may work in schools as qualified teachers.
• Further opportunity to develop your digital skills and work collaboratively with colleagues
• Use of MSET QTLS designation 
• In addition, from September 2024, QTLS holders who are maintaining this professional status through SET membership, will also be issued with a Teacher Reference Number (TRN) and will appear on the Department for Education’s (DfE’s) central record of qualified teachers managed by the Teaching Regulation Agency 
• A natural progression route towards ATS 

• For the organisation:

• Improve learning outcomes.
• Improve standards efficiently and cost effectively. 
• Raise your organisation's profile to partners and learners. 
• Provide a high-quality developmental process tailored to the organisation’s requirements. 
• Recruit the best teachers and promote your credentials as an employer. 
• Promote a culture of working collaboratively to improve teaching standards amongst peers.

6. What are the stages of the professional formation portfolio?

The programme has 2 stages: Application and professional formation.

Application: usually open from early August to mid-October (24th Oct 2024)
 

Professional formation: starting in mid-January until end of June

CPD record includes a review of a piece of educational research

7. What type of evidence should be uploaded to the portfolio?

There are a number of useful documents which can be used towards the professional formation portfolio such as: meeting and standardisation records, lesson observation reports, INSET day training and any evidence of CPD event information. All of this evidence can be uploaded and counted towards the QTLS journey.   

8. What support is available during the portfolio building process?

• Knowledge Base within the portfolio, which included all the guidance required.
• Help button in the portfolio.
• Customer Experience team, both via email and on the phone.
• Q&A Sessions scheduled during the programme.
• Regular newsletters.

9. When does the application window open and what is the closing date?

10. When will I be notified if I have passed QTLS and what if I am unsuccessful?

• Application stage – Notified by mid-December.
• Professional formation programme – notified in early August.
• Unsuccessful participants will receive detailed written feedback and have one opportunity to resubmit.

11. How much does QTLS cost?

• Application - £50 (non-refundable)
• Professional formation - £520 in full by credit/debit card or by one direct debit payment
OR Pay £160 as a deposit by credit/debit card + 3 x monthly payments of £120.
• Total - £570

12. Is there an annual membership fee for SET?

• Yes, the current fee for Member grade is £6.42 per month = £77 per year by Direct Debit.
• By card - £89 per year.
• Membership for trainee teachers is free. Once they are qualified the fees above apply.

13. Do I gain a certificate of recognition once I have passed QTLS?

• Yes, once you are awarded QTLS, you will have access to an electronic copy of your certificate on your SET dashboard.
• A paper copy will be posted about 8 weeks later.

14. Which teaching sectors can I work within with QTLS? (Eg: Primary, Secondary, Independent schools?)

15. How does QTLS affect teacher pay?

• QTLS is a professional status for teachers and trainers working in the FE and Skills sector.
• As the sector is not regulated, it is not mandatory to hold QTLS to work in FE.
• Therefore, holding QTLS does not guarantee a salary change. This will be determined by the employing organisations. We would encourage every teacher to check with the potential employer for any salary enquiries.

16. Can I teach abroad with QTLS? If so, which countries recognize QTLS? (E.g.: UAE, Australia, Canada/USA?)

• QTLS is officially recognised only in England.
• Some organisations in other countries may value to status. However, teachers who teach in other countries, need to check with their employers and local education authorities whether they will recognised QTLS.
• We would encourage every teacher with aspirations to work overseas to check with the potential school or college you are thinking of applying to check if QTLS will be recognised within the job application process.  

17. Do I have to re-do QTLS once achieved?
• No, once achieved you do not need to re-do QTLS.
• However, you need to remain a member of SET for your status to stay active.
• If your SET membership lapses, your status will stay dormant, and become active again when membership is renewed.

18. What CPD is available after QTLS?

• Teachers who progress to work in an advanced teacher position, may want to consider Advanced Teacher Status (ATS).
• In order to be eligible, teachers must be in a position where they have opportunities to formally coach/mentor others as part of their role. 
• They also need to be in a position where they influence teaching and learning from a strategic perspective across the organisation.
• Both QTLS and ATS are professional statuses with a focus on teaching and learning. 
• A range of CPD opportunities in other areas within FE and Skills such as EdTech, English and Maths, safeguarding, etc, can be found in the ETF Professional Development website.

19. Does SET have an annual conference?

• SET used to have one annual conference per year.
• However, next year there will be 2 conferences hosted by the ETF:
o Further Forward for Leaders on 13 March 2025, in London.
o Teaching and Learning Conference on 19 March 2025, in Birmingham.

20. What is ATS?

• ATS stands for Advanced Teacher Status.
• It is a developmental process leading to the highest professional status in FE and Skills. 
• It is not a course or qualification; it is a professional status for advanced teachers who wish to demonstrate how the continue to develop their mastery in 3 different aspects:

o Their own pedagogical knowledge and skills
o The development of their colleagues’ professional practice
o Their influence across the organisation at strategic level.

In order to be eligible, applicants must have held their Level 5 or above initial teacher education qualification, for a minimum of four years (if holding QTS or QTLS status) or a minimum of five years (if you do not hold QTLS or QTS status)