Further Education (FE) Lecturer

Also known as:

College Lecturer
Further Education College Lecturer
Teacher - Further Education College
FE Lecturer
Lecturer - Further Education

Introduction

Further education (FE) lecturers teach academic or vocational subjects to students, most of whom are over 16. They prepare lectures and practical sessions and may hold seminars and individual tutorials. They also assess work, report on the progress of students and set and mark exams and tests.

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Work Activities

Further education (FE) lecturers teach one or more related academic or vocational subjects. The courses they teach may lead to Highers, National Certificates (NCs), National Qualifications (NQs), Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs), Higher National Certificates (HNCs) or Higher National Diplomas (HNDs). They may also teach on leisure courses which do not necessarily lead to qualifications. The students may be full-time, part-time or attending day-release or evening classes, and most are aged 16 or over.

Duties include:
• planning and designing courses
• preparing and delivering lectures and demonstrations
• in some cases, setting up and leading seminars and tutorials
• giving additional support to students who need it
• assessing and reporting on the progress of each student
• setting and marking tests, exercises, coursework and exams.

Lecturers help students to develop their analytical and study skills, and may organise work experience for them. They use audio-visual materials and computers in all aspects of their work, including when producing course materials.

They must keep up to date with all relevant educational and vocational developments. This involves not only reading relevant reports and periodicals, but also attending training and staff development sessions.

All lecturers have to spend some time on administrative tasks, such as keeping records and writing reports, as well as attending relevant meetings.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

As a further education (FE) lecturer, you should have extensive knowledge of your subject and a keenness to share that knowledge with your students.

You need excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, in order to deal with students of various ages and different abilities. You must have self-confidence, and be capable of working with large numbers in a class or lecture theatre as well as with individual students on a one-to-one basis. In addition, you should be able to interest your students in your subject and motivate them.

You must be well organised and well prepared, both to be an effective teacher and to be able to balance your teaching commitments with your other duties.

You should be enthusiastic, with patience and a good sense of humour.

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Pay and Opportunities

Pay rates for further education (FE) lecturers vary depending on the college they work in.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

FE lecturers earn in the range of £21,500 - £36,500 a year, and higher rates are possible, depending on role and responsibilities.

Full-time lecturers usually work a 35-hour week, with around 22.5 hours spent teaching, from Monday to Friday. However, it is not unusual for lecturers to work extra hours at home, marking students' work and preparing lessons.

Full-time, part-time and temporary posts are usually available.

Most FE lecturers are employed in FE colleges but there are other posts in community learning centres, adult education centres, private colleges, the prison service, the armed forces, and in industry.

Competition for posts can be intense. Many FE lecturers work part-time (during the day or sometimes in the evening) and on short-term contracts, especially at the start of their career.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Entrants with experience and relevant academic or professional qualifications have an advantage.

You could enter further education colleges as a lecturer if you have substantial relevant work experience in a vocational sector, for example, secretarial or engineering work.

Although teaching qualifications for lecturers are not nationally mandatory in Scotland, individual colleges may stipulate that new entrants undertake one or more of the available professional qualifications.

Once in post, lecturers may work towards an initial teaching qualification, the PDA. From this, they may move on to gaining the full TQ(FE).

Alternatively, they can immediately commence a TQ(FE) programme, provided they can meet some core entry requirements. The TQ(FE) can be studied full time prior to gaining employment, although the norm is for qualifications to be undertaken on a part-time basis once in post.

• 4% of further education lecturers are self-employed.
• 33% work part-time.
• 3% have flexible hours.
• 12% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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