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National College of Education

Level 5 Learning and Skills Teacher Apprenticeship

Learning and Skills Teacher

Develop the expertise, confidence and skills                                               to deliver high-quality teaching.

Quality assured by

  • Ofsted Good Provider
  • Cyber Essentials Certified
  • CMI Outstanding Training Provider of the Year
  • Training Qualifications UK

Next cohort deadline

1 October 2026

Applications close, fixed cohort

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Explore this apprenticeship

Jump to what matters most.

OverviewCurriculumBenefitsCost & fundingEligibilityProgressionFAQs

The essentials

The apprenticeship at a glance

Level

5

Duration

15 months + EPA (up to 3 months)

Delivery

Flexible Spotlight Sessions, expert podcasts and personalised coaching

Assessment

Portfolio of evidence

Funding

£7,000

Next cohort

1 October 2026

What will I learn?

  • Plan, deliver and evaluate high-quality, evidence-informed teaching
  • Apply inclusive teaching and learning strategies across diverse education and training contexts
  • Design and use assessment and feedback to support learner progress
  • Embed English, maths, digital skills and wider employability skills within learning
  • Use engagement, motivation and behaviour strategies to support diverse learners
  • Develop your dual-professional expertise as a subject specialist and skilled teacher

How is it delivered?

  • Flexible Spotlight Sessions and self-paced digital learning, supported by Quarterly 'Ask the Expert' podcasts and personalised coaching
  • Practical, role-focused learning through the PRIME Learning Model, connecting learning to real-world application, inclusion and impact
  • Dedicated support from a named Professional Learning Mentor          and workplace mentor throughout the programme
  • A minimum of six hours per week of protected off-the-job learning, recorded in Aptem
  • Digital portfolio built continuously across the apprenticeship

Who is it for?

  • New and existing teachers in FE and sixth-form colleges
  • Trainers and assessors in work-based and independent training providers
  • Adult and community learning tutors
  • Offender learning and specialist college teachers
  • Subject specialists moving from industry into teaching

What do I need?

  • A teaching, training or lecturing role for at least 30 hours per week
  • A relevant subject-specialist qualification (typically Level 3 or above, Level 4/5 for HE-level teaching)
  • GCSE English and maths at grade 4/C or equivalent; learners aged 16–18 without these  will work towards Level 2
  • Right to work in the UK and meet the eligibility requirements for apprenticeship funding
  • Employer support to provide protected off-the-job learning time and opportunities to gather workplace evidence

The apprenticeship

What is the Learning and Skills Teacher Apprenticeship?

Further education needs teachers who bring real industry expertise into the classroom, not just subject knowledge from a textbook. That's what the Learning and Skills Teacher apprenticeship builds.

This is a dual professional qualification for teachers working across FE colleges, sixth forms and work-based learning providers. Learners develop the pedagogy to teach post-16 students effectively alongside their existing vocational or technical expertise, covering inclusive practice, assessment, safeguarding and PREVENT, and how to use digital tools well in the classroom.

Delivered by practitioners who've taught in FE themselves, it builds confident, evidence-informed teachers who can plan and deliver learning that actually prepares students for their next step, whether that's further study, an apprenticeship or a job.

Apprenticeship architecture

What will you learn?

01

Foundations of Effective Teaching (Months 1 - 5)

Pedagogical Theory, Inclusive Teaching & Learning, Curriculum Design, Inclusive Learner Engagement and  Assessment Principles

02

Learner Support & Wellbeing          (Months 6 - 8)

Feedback & Target Setting, Safe Learning Environment and Safeguarding & Welfare

03

Professional Practice & Digital Innovation (Months 9 - 12)

Communication & Coaching, Regulations & Compliance, Promoting Equality & Diversity and Digital Innovation

04

Professional Growth, Quality & Impact (Months 13 - 15)

Continuous Professional Development (CPD),  Quality Improvement & Resilience and Supporting Learner Progression

05

Gateway and EPA preparation        (Months 16 - 18)

Portfolio finalisation, teaching observation planning, and structured professional discussion preparation.

Grow your people. Strengthen your organisation.

Book a consultation

Why invest in the Learning and Skills Teacher? Here's what employers get when they back their team through this programme, no extra budget needed.

Up to 100% Levy-funded. Delivered around the working day. Built for real workplace impact.

A qualified FE teaching workforce

Build a fully qualified, dual-professional teaching workforce that meets the professional standards of the FE and Skills sector.

Up to 100% Levy-funded

£7,000 per learner covered from the Apprenticeship Levy; non-levy employers co-invest just 5% (£350).

Higher learner outcomes

Teachers equipped with evidence-based post-16 pedagogy demonstrably improve achievement, retention and progression.

Retention of subject experts

A recognised professional teaching pathway retains subject specialists moving in from industry.

Observation & coaching capacity

Structured teaching observations and coaching cycles lift wider teaching practice across the department.

Ofsted and quality alignment

Directly aligned to the Education Inspection Framework and the Professional Standards for FE teachers.

£0

cost to employer

=

£7,000 (non-levy: £350 co-investment)

funded via Apprenticeship Levy

Levy transfers depend on partner availability and can't be guaranteed on every enrolment. As your training provider we'll pursue every funding route available, co-investment, transfer partnerships and incentive payments, so your workforce journey is as cost-effective as possible.

Cost & funding

How much does the Learning and Skills Teacher apprenticeship cost?

£7,000 per learner, fully funded through the Apprenticeship Levy for levy-paying employers. £0 to the learner.

Non-levy employers co-invest just 5% (£350), with 95% covered by government.

Employers with unused levy can access the apprenticeship via levy transfer from a levy-paying partner.

Need help understanding the Levy? Book a call

Am I in?

Am I eligible?

Not sure? Ask our team

Where it fits

How does this compare, and where does it lead?

Side-by-side against other NCE apprenticeships, plus the progression ladder from starting point to next step.

ApprenticeshipLevelDurationWho it's forQualificationFunding
Learning and Skills TeacherThis pageLevel 515m + EPATeachers, trainers and lecturers in FE and SkillsLearning and Skills Teacher (ST0851)£7,000
Specialist Teaching AssistantLevel 518m + EPAExperienced TAs specialising in SEND / interventionSpecialist Teaching Assistant (ST1246)£12,000
Employability PractitionerLevel 415m + EPACareers, IAG and employment support staffEmployability Practitioner (ST0663)£6,000

Progression ladder

Your journey through the Learning and Skills Teacher

  1. 1

    Step 1

    During the apprenticeship

    Develop and evidence high-quality teaching practice with measurable impact on post-16 learner outcomes.

  2. 2

    Step 2

    Immediately after EPA

    Move into course leadership, module leadership or subject coordination roles across FE and Skills settings.

  3. 3

    Step 3

    Long-term

    Progress into curriculum management, quality leadership, teaching-and-learning lead or Advanced Practitioner roles.

Still wondering?

Frequently asked questions about the Learning and Skills Teacher.

Learners

Ready to apply?

Register your interest and we'll be in touch with cohort dates and next steps.

Employers

Want to talk it through?

Speak to a real person, register your interest and our employer team will work through fit, funding and cohort planning with you.

0333 123 4567 hello@nationaleducation.collegeMon–Fri, 9am–5pm