IfL members who have renewed their membership until 31 March 2015 will become part of the Foundation’s professional membership and will receive access to continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities and benefits to support them in their professional practice.
Sue Crowley, IfL’s elected chair, said, “The closure of IfL today is a sad occasion for many, including those whose passion and commitment led to the creation 12 years ago of the first professional body for teachers and trainers in further education and skills in England. This is a day to reflect on IfL’s many achievements, which included ensuring that the voices of teachers and trainers were heard, and leading a successful campaign for Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status, conferred by IfL, to be recognised in law as equal to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) for teaching in schools. It is good to know that QTLS is here to stay, and that the Foundation will open a new window for applications on 1 December 2014.
“Another important aspect of IfL’s legacy is the way that the language around professionalism in our sector has changed: IfL’s description of teachers as ‘dual professionals’ – experts in their vocational or subject field as well as in teaching and learning – has been widely adopted and features at the heart of discussions about vocational pedagogy. IfL has made a real difference to the way the sector thinks about CPD, by sharing its findings about effective CPD and the impact on individuals and organisations; by encouraging teachers to take ownership of their professional learning; and by highlighting the power of learning as a collective activity.”
IfL’s chief executive, Dr Jean Kelly, said, “I would like to thank IfL members for their support over the years, for the valuable contributions they have made to the discourse about professionalism and teaching and learning, and for helping inform FE and skills policy. We are very grateful also to members of the Advisory Council, who have given generously of their time to represent IfL members and Fellows; to members of the non-executive board; to IfL patrons, friends and supporters; and to the hundreds of volunteers who engaged with their professional body and supported professional activities online and around the country.
“IfL staff have been working to ensure as smooth as possible a transfer of our legacy to the Foundation, and I would like to thank them for their commitment and hard work. This has included the creation of an IfL archive containing publications, research and governance records, to be held at the University of Warwick’s Modern Records Centre.
“Under the Foundation’s stewardship, IfL’s philosophy and values will continue – through the recognition of effective CPD, through QTLS status, and through the sense of ownership that so many teachers and trainers now have of their professional identity.”
David Russell, chief executive of the Education and Training Foundation, said, “Taking on IfL’s legacy is a huge privilege for the Foundation. It is sad to say goodbye to the dedicated and passionate team at IfL who have carried the torch for teaching professionalism in our sector, but I am excited about the future, and look forward to shaping a fresh membership offer that meets the evolving needs of practitioners and the whole sector.
“Keeping our development programmes relevant and high quality is paramount. Having a direct relationship with tens of thousands of professional members – teachers, trainers and other staff across independent training providers, colleges and other settings – will help us do that even better. We also want to build a high-quality professional formation route that takes the very best of what IfL has achieved, and develops it in innovative ways.
“So whether you’re an IfL member or not, if you’re a practising professional anywhere in the education and training system, whatever your role, please do get involved with the consultation process we will soon be running. With your help, we can build a fantastic offer to ensure the sector’s success in the years ahead.”