Popular ETF maths and English courses return

Booking is now open for the next cohorts of the Education and Training Foundation’s (ETF’s) popular maths and English Level 5 professional development modules. They focus on the delivery of GCSE and Functional Skills Maths and English and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages).

Delivery of the five modules commences in mid-April 2024 and is structured across ten weekly online sessions, concluding in June.

Teaching ESOL in the post-16 sector: develop your practice is designed to support participants to become more confident analysing the English Language needs of ESOL learners and planning teaching and learning activities to help learners develop their language awareness, and the four English language skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. The module is aimed at new and experienced teachers of ESOL within the post-16 sector, especially those who have had no previous Level 5 subject specialist training. Delivery begins on 17 April.

Places can be booked here.

Teaching GCSE Maths: Develop your practice supports engagement and effective practice in teaching GCSE Maths by developing a new range of skills and strategies. It is for teachers and other practitioners in the Further Education (FE) and Skills sector; and may also be useful for Vocational staff providing T Levels with substantial mathematical content, or those transitioning from functional maths delivery to GCSE maths. The first session is on 17 April.

Places can be booked here.

Teaching GCSE English: Develop your practice supports practitioners working with GCSE English learners, especially those who have achieved lower than a grade 4 at school. It explores how to engage and motivate learners and undertake assessment to build on their prior learning. Participants will experience digital approaches and other effective practices. It is aimed at existing teachers who currently teach GCSE English and would benefit from training and development, as well as new GCSE teachers such as Functional Skills teachers or vocational teachers who are teaching or have taught English/literacy at Level 2. The first session is on 15 April.

Places can be booked here.

Teaching Maths Functional Skills is aimed at both new and more experienced teachers of Functional Skills maths and those who have recently transferred from other areas, including vocational teachers and assessors. It is particularly suitable for those who do not currently hold a specific teaching qualification in maths. It is designed to meet the needs of all parts of the Further Education and Skills sector, including independent training providers, colleges, offender learning and adult and community education. The first session is on 16 April.

Places can be booked here.

Teaching English Functional Skills explores how to engage and motivate learners and undertake assessment to build on prior learning. It is designed to meet the needs of all parts of the sector including independent training providers, offender learning, and adult and community education. It is aimed at new teachers of Functional Skills English, experienced teachers who may have recently transferred from other areas, and those who do not currently hold a subject-specific teaching qualification in English. The first session is on 18 April.

Places can be booked here.

The modules have been well-received by the sector, with members of previous cohorts remarking on the quality of the trainers and their delivery, and the content and its impact on teaching and learner achievement.

Feedback on the trainers has included comments such as “…superb. I couldn’t ask for more,” and “…they are highly experienced, care about their subject knowledge and are passionate about improving outcomes for leaners… best facilitators I have ever had on a training session in my 19 years in education”.

Feedback on the content and its impact has included comments such as “I’ve been teaching for 22 years. You can forget things; you can get jaded with some of the delivery. But doing training like this rejuvenates you,” and “I have already seen greater engagement among students and better outcomes”.

The modules are part of a wide range of support for English and Maths in FE and Skills provided by the ETF. For details, visit the English and maths area of the ETF website.

Members of the Society for Education and Training (SET) are entitled to a 10% discount on the course fees.