Teaching Qualification for Further Education (TQFE): guidance

Overview

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance:

• on the requirements of Teaching Qualification in Further Education (TQFE) programmes; and
• to individuals and institutions on the entry requirements for individuals seeking a place on programmes leading to the award of a TQFE

Lecturer registation

As part of the 2017 national bargaining agreement, the Employers’ Association (now College Employers Scotland) and Educational Institute of Scotland Further Education Lecturers’ Association (EIS-FELA) agreed that college lecturers will require professional registration. As a result, registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTC Scotland) now forms part of the agreed national terms and conditions of employment for all college lecturers employed in a Scottish college. Registration for college lecturers is not a legislative requirement as it is for school teachers; it is an employment requirement.

In order to register with GTC Scotland, lecturers must meet the GTC Scotland registration requirements as set out independently by GTC Scotland. More information regarding registration can be found on the GTC Scotland website.

The National Joint Negotiating Committee Circular 03/18 implements and provides further guidance on the agreement reached between college employers and EIS-FELA. It sets out that all lecturers undertaking a recognised lecturing qualification will receive remission on the basis of 150 hours reduction in class contact time over an academic year. Line managers will ensure that lecturers have one full day with no class contact for the duration of the course. The total remission from class contact will apply regardless of duration of study period and/or fraction of contract.

We recognise that additional barriers may exist for lecturers on fractional or part-time contracts, despite an equal level of remission offered to all lecturers. In developing this guidance, we gave consideration to this alongside the need to maintain the quality of the TQFE and its offering to candidates. We expect colleges and TQFE providers to work collaboratively to ensure programmes are accessible to all prospective candidates.

 Statutory background

Under article 30 of the Public Services Reform (General Teaching Council for Scotland) Order 2011 (the Order), it is for the Scottish Ministers to determine what constitutes a recognised teaching qualification for individuals seeking registration as a teacher of further education with GTC Scotland. 

Before making or changing a determination under article 30, the Scottish Ministers must consult further education institutions or their representatives, GTC Scotland and such other persons appearing to them to have an interest. They must have regard to any views expressed by those consulted in relation to any determination. Determinations must be published.

TQFE review

The College Lecturer Registration Working Group (CLRWG) was established in December 2018 to advance college lecturer registration. As part of this work, the CLRWG put forward a report to us making recommendations to review and update the TQFE landscape. 

In response, we accepted that the current framework and processes surrounding TQFE required to be reviewed. The solution proposed by the us was that a future determination could be drafted that sets the criteria against which a TQFE can be accredited. This would give effect to the principles of the recommendations around allowing GTC Scotland to accredit and approve TQFE programmes and review the entry requirements, model scheme of provision and accreditation processes currently underpinning TQFE, within the current legislative framework.

We set up a short life working group tasked with reviewing the entry requirements and model scheme of provision underpinning the TQFE, and producing updated drafts of these key documents. This group operated between September 2022 and October 2022. Membership was made up of representatives from:

• college sector
• EIS-FELA
• GTC Scotland 
• Scottish Government 

The group produced revised entry requirements and a revised model scheme of provision. 

Accreditation

Accreditation is the process of ascertaining whether a programme leading to a TQFE is recognised for the purposes of the Order and GTC Scotland registration. Accreditation applies to programmes and not to the TQFE institution; accreditation therefore takes place on a programme by programme basis. 

From 1 August 2025, GTC Scotland may accredit or reaccredit TQFE programmes in line with the requirements set out by Scottish Ministers in Teaching Qualification in Further Education Determination 2025.

This determination sets the minimum entry requirements for access to a programme and minimum expectations of what will be included within a TQFE programme. 

Further guidance on the minimum entry requirements for admission to a TQFE programme and programme requirements are detailed in this guidance. GTC Scotland will apply these requirements and reserves the right to seek any additional information as deemed necessary from institutions seeking accreditation of a TQFE programme. GTC Scotland will be responsible for determining the process of accrediting programmes. Further information and guidance will be provided by GTC Scotland as necessary. 

GTC Scotland will determine the duration of programme accreditation. GTC Scotland reserve the right to re-visit a programme at any time during this period and may withdraw programme accreditation in line with its policy and procedures. Any deviations from the terms within which a programme has been accredited require to be expressly agreed by GTC Scotland in line with its policy and procedures.

Professional standards for lecturers in Scotland's colleges

Responsibility for the Professional Standards for College Lecturers was transferred from the Scottish Government to GTC Scotland in November 2019. For the purposes of this guidance, the version of the Professional Standards for College Lecturers enacted and applicable at the point of accreditation and programme delivery will apply.