Level 5 Education and Training

Start Date
Level
5
Course Course
P00451
Area
Teaching & Education
Campus
City Campus

About this Course

The Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills) is a prestigious, nationally recognised qualification tailored for those aspiring to teach in the dynamic Further Education sector. This new qualification is designed for individuals working or planning to work in the Further Education and Skills (FES) sector. It provides a full teaching qualification aligned with the occupational standards approved by employers and key stakeholders across the sector.

What you can study

Students who successfully complete Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills) will take both an analytical and practical approach to planning, delivering, and assessing inclusive teaching and learning. You will apply educational theories and principles directly to your practice and develop the skills needed to teach effectively in both traditional classroom settings and online environments.

Assessment throughout the course is varied and includes assignments, presentations, practical observations of teaching, small-scale practitioner research, and specialist practitioner observations.

This diploma is mainly delivered at our City campus on Granville Road) through weekly content taught sessions, tutorials and work-based observations. The course is designed to for around your professional commitments whilst aligned to the Level 5 Learning and Skills Teacher occupational standard, ensuring your training is relevant, up to date, and valued by employers across a wide range of FES settings.

You will study 8 units across the two year programme including:

  • Teachers and teaching
  • Learners and learning
  • Teaching my subject
  • Professional practice
  • Digital and online pedagogy
  • Managing behaviour
  • Action research
  • Coaching and mentoring

You are expected to engage with wider reading and research to support your progression through the qualification. The course is well structured to support your success, with a focus on helping you achieve your best while balancing study with your existing commitments. By completing this qualification, you’ll gain the skills, knowledge, and professional status needed to build a rewarding career in further education, adult learning, or work-based training environments.

Entry Requirements

You will typically hold the following prior qualifications:

- A minimum of a L3 subject specialism.
- A* to C grade and/or 9 to 4 in GCSE English (Language or Literature) or level 2 equivalent.
- A* to C grade and/or 9 to 4 in GCSE maths (or level 2 equivalent).

Holding the Level 3 Award in Education and Training would be an advantage but not essential.

Non-native English speakers who have not undertaken their final two years of schooling in English, need to demonstrate capability in English at a standard equivalent to the levels identified below, before being recruited to the programme. The programme is both taught and assessed through the medium of English.

Students must meet the following minimum criteria:

  • 19 years of age and above
  • Able to demonstrate an ability to study at level 5
  • Suitable level of digital competency to ensure they can meet the requirements of the qualification
  • You will be required to present proof of the above requested qualifications in order to enrol
  • You will need to complete an initial assessment to determine if a level 5 qualification is appropriate and achievable
  • You will be required to present proof of the above requested qualifications in order to enrol
  • You will need to complete an initial assessment to determine if a level 5 qualification is appropriate and achievable
  • You will require an agreement in place to attend the Wednesday delivery sessions if you are currently employed as attendance is a mandatory requirement.

Placement requirements:

To complete the diploma, you need to have access to a minimum of 250 hours of placement, including at least 150 hours of teaching contact time and will have to evidence a small number of online teaching hours. These hours will cover teaching classes of learners aged 14+ with a minimum class size of 10. Some of the hours will also have to cover other activities such as staff training, standardisation, open events etc.

You will also undertake additional hours at a second placement.

- Placements can be Full-time, Part-time, Paid or Voluntary.

Mentor Support:

Each trainee needs to have evidence at interview / enrolment that they have both a pastural mentor and subject specialist mentor in place as this is a requirement of the course.

Subject Specialist Mentor:

A mentor to help you apply theoretical knowledge to real-life, subject-specific teaching contexts. They will be a qualified teacher (PGCE/CertEd/DTLLS/DET and L3+ qualified in your subject). They must meet for a minimum of 30 minutes per week and complete a meeting record to evidence each meeting. They will complete a lesson observation with you once a year.

Pastoral Mentor
A mentor to support your personal and pastoral needs throughout the course. They must also meet with you for a minimum of 30 minutes per week but cannot carry out any of your lesson observations.

Assessment

You will be assessed via a number of methods that can be discussed in more detail at interview, such as:

- Written assignments
- Practical teaching observations
- E-Portfolio evidence
- Placement evidence
- Mentor evidence

Where does this Lead

On completion of this qualification, you may choose to progress to further study, such as a foundation degree or a BA (Hons) degree in a subject related to education. Please note that teaching must take place within the post-16 education sector.

If you achieve the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (FE & Skills) and move on to a higher education qualification at Level 6 or above, your Level 5 credits may be recognised, depending on the recognition of prior learning arrangements at the higher education institution.

This course can also lead directly to employment within the Further Education sector.

Future Opportunities

Individuals who successfully complete the course can apply for QTLS independently once qualified at an additional cost. Learners will be provided with information, support and guidance on to do this while studying through our partnership with the Teaching Education Foundation.

Tell Me More

As an enrolled learner at The Sheffield College you will have access to all our campus resources, learning resource centres along with food and drink establishments such as our very own Costa Coffee.

The course is delivered in line with Equality and SEND legislation. The classroom is an inclusive learning environment, and students with SpLDs can be referred for additional support outside of the classroom, within the college.

We have a team of staff dedicated to providing learning and pastoral support if required, as well as a Wellbeing Team that is on hand to offer guidance, support, and help when needed. Additionally, eligible students can access a wide range of finance and funding support to help them during their time at college.

Extra Costs

The total fee for this course is £3300, this will cover the duration of the 2 year programme. This course does not come under the remit of Student Finance and therefore, you cannot apply for a student loan to fund it. You can however consider an agreed payment plan or undertake the qualification via an apprenticeship route: Level 5 Learning and Skills Teacher Apprenticeship., however this will be additional workload alongside the level 5 diploma. If you would like to know more about the apprenticeship option, then please inform us at interview and or complete the contact form via the link.

https://apprenticeships.sheffcol.ac.uk/contact

There are no additional costs other than those typically expected of undertaking study, such as purchasing materials such as course reading, stationary equipment and laptop or notebook.

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