Roles and Responsibilities of a Teacher in Further Education

Having completed their Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training, educators teaching in FE have to fulfil a range of roles and responsibilities. Some functions and responsibilities are shared within an organisation or across the whole of FE Teaching, education and training. Others may be specific to a specialism or individual contractual obligations. The wide range of roles and responsibilities is due mainly to the variety of courses, students, and organisations involved in FE.

Roles of a teacher in FE

The role of an FE teacher is many-sided. Typical demands for educators across the sector include:

• making learning enjoyable;
• using varied teaching strategies with a focus on student-led methods where possible;
• understanding schemes and schedules of work;
• understanding assessment criteria and using a variety of assessment approaches, including summative and formative assessments;
• designing programmes of study including the preparation of teaching, learning and assessment resources;
• carrying out initial assessments;
• communicating clearly to others;
• providing a safe learning environment;
• promoting appropriate behaviour for learning, including establishing and maintaining ground rules for learners;
• managing groups and their education;
• promoting inclusivity;
• being knowledgeable in the subject;
• knowing how to gain additional support for yourself and your learners;
• being organised;
• interviewing learners;
• providing appropriate feedback;
• keeping records of progress;
• monitoring attendance and punctuality;
• entering learners for examinations;
• self-evaluation.

Responsibilities of a teacher in FE

An FE teacher’s responsibilities may include:

• adherence to the organisation’s policies and procedures, relevant legislation and codes of practice;
• application of the organisation’s policies and procedures, relevant legislation and codes of practice;
• continual professional development (CPD);
• setting and maintaining high standards;
• collaborating with the team;
• being dependable, trustworthy and conscientious;
• following sector codes of conduct;
• meeting individual needs through differentiation and personalisation of learning;
• accurate record keeping;
• knowing when and where to refer learners to for additional support.

Boundaries of Teaching

It is essential to know where a teacher’s role stops. It is vital not to become personally involved with learners. Educators must be professional and impartial, acting with integrity.

As a teacher or trainer, you will face many challenges to maintain these boundaries, such as:

• demands from managers, e.g. to meet targets and deadlines;
• learners whose first language is not English;
• the ability of your learners to achieve;
• paperwork and administrative requirements;
• lack of time or resources.

You may find challenging professional boundaries between your role as an educator and other professional positions that you fulfil. You should be able to work within a teaching and training role. You should also be able to ask for help. Don’t fall into the trap of taking on too much or becoming responsible for tasks that are part of someone else’s role.

Other constraints you may face include policies and procedures, administrative burdens, a lack of funding or resources. You may view these boundaries as negative aspects of your roles and responsibilities. However, they are a necessary part of your role, for example, the amount of documentation you need to maintain for audit purposes.

Throughout your teaching career, you should act professionally. Professionalism is about having the right skills, knowledge and understanding to perform your role and carrying out that role with the right attitudes, values, behaviours and beliefs.