Description
This textbook has been developed to support those teaching, and training to teach, in the further education and skills (FES) sector. Written in an accessible, easily digestible format this textbook will provide you with a range of activities that can be used to help you connect key evidence-informed concepts to your FES classrooms and subject specialist teaching practice.
While applicable to other initial teacher education (ITE) sectors both in the UK and abroad (such as primary and secondary), the focus is primarily on those undertaking one of the following ITE programmes in the FES sector in England:
- Level 5 Learning and Skills Teacher Apprenticeship
- Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (DiT)
- Level 5 Certificate in Education (Cert Ed)
- Level 6 Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (ProfGCE)
- Level 7 Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
- Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)
Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1. The further education and skills sector
Chapter 2. Professional duties and responsibilities of an FES teacher
Chapter 3. The learning environment
Chapter 4. Meeting learner needs
Chapter 5. Curriculum
Chapter 6. Pedagogy
Chapter 7. Assessment
Chapter 8. Collaborating in FES
Chapter 9. Supporting learners’ progression
Chapter 10. Success in your initial teacher education programme
Meet the author team
Dr Dan Williams
University of Derby Programme Leader for Initial Teacher Education, Post 14 Further Education and Skills
Dan has worked in education since 2008, progressing from lecturer in sport to supporting teacher development as an Advanced Practitioner and Teaching and Learning Coach across FE colleges. He joined the University of Derby in 2016 as Programme Leader for Post-14 FE ITE.
Under his leadership, the programme achieved an Outstanding Ofsted rating in 2024 — the largest and most diverse provider in the UK to do so. Dan holds a PhD in Education, serves as Editor of the ETF’s InTuition journal, and has held senior sector roles with both the ETF and SET.
Kayte Haselgrove
University of Derby Assistant Programme Lead and Senior Lecturer for Initial Teacher Education, Post 14 Further Education and Skills
With over 15 years’ experience in Further Education, Kayte brings extensive expertise in teaching, leadership, and professional development. Through her business, EduKayte, she supports colleges nationwide with high-impact training and consultancy that helps educators and organisations achieve excellence.
Kayte is Assistant Programme Lead for Post-14 FE and Skills ITE at the University of Derby, where she leads the English pathway and contributed to the university’s Outstanding Ofsted rating in 2024. A Fellow of the ETF and HEA, she is also a PhD researcher and external examiner for FE ITE programmes at several universities.
Mike Tyler
University of Worcester Lecturer in ITE (Further Education & Skills)
Mike began his teaching career in secondary education before moving into Further Education in 2010, where he spent over a decade teaching sport and completing a master’s in the sociology of sport. He has also held roles in professional development and quality improvement, including BTEC National Examiner for Sport.
Now a Lecturer in ITE (FE and Skills) at the University of Worcester, Mike designed and leads the university’s Diploma in Teaching. A Fellow of Advance HE and member of SET, he is passionate about developing excellent teaching practice – and is also a proud BBC Pointless winner.
Polly Harrow, Assistant Principal, Kirklees College –
Important and constructive advice and support, maintaining a clear focus on the student experience.
Oliver Cavigliol – Former special school head teacher. –
This book […] is both comprehensive and yet also very accessible. It shines a lucid light on the myriad demands on teachers. The organisation of the content is really clear, the writing direct and informative, and the ideas inspiring and practical.
Dr Vikki Smith, Executive Director (Ed & Standards), ETF –
Crucially, ETF’s Professional Standards are embedded throughout … They signal to new and experienced teachers alike that their practice is rooted in evidence, ethics, and excellence.
G Hall, HE and Teacher Education Manager –
This is an extremely useful resource to support trainee development in line with the new framework for ITE in FE and Skills. The chapters align with the duties of the occupational standard, it introduces the focus on evidence-based practice early, contains useful examples from a range of subjects commonly taught in FE settings. Consideration of theory within the book emphasises the importance of looking at contemporary research, recognising the need to move away from a reliance on pedagogical theories/approaches that may have previously been relied on in ITE but for which there is no evidence base.
Dr Noor Abokhumra –
Nothing better than a good coffee, sunny weather, and a great book
Teaching in Further Education and Skills: Concept to Classroom
Written by Dan Williams, alongside Kayte Haselgrove and Mike Tyler, this book offers a practical and insightful guide for educators working in FE.
It successfully bridges the gap between educational theory and classroom practice, making it highly relevant for lecturers—especially those delivering vocational and apprenticeship programmes.
The book explores key teaching theories such as Constructivism, Behaviourism, and Experiential Learning, and clearly demonstrates how these can be applied in real teaching contexts.
What stands out most is its strong focus on:
– Practical strategies
– Effective lesson planning
– Assessment and feedback
– Supporting diverse learners
For engineering educators, the emphasis on “learning by doing”, reflective practice, and linking theory to workplace application is particularly valuable.
Overall:
A highly accessible and useful resource for enhancing teaching practice and supporting learner success.