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The Institute for Learning (IfL) has said that a new report published by the City & Guilds Centre for Skills Development (CSD) will be a central addition to the current debate on effective vocational pedagogy.

Toni Fazaeli, IfL’s chief executive, said, “Vocational pedagogy – the way in which teaching and learning is delivered in vocational education and training – is crucial and absolutely central to achieving top-quality provision. In seeking to re-establish the purpose of and theory behind vocational education and training, the City & Guilds report offers a useful model for developing effective vocational teaching and learning; argues that the process of developing a vocational pedagogy involves a number of stages; and provides a series of 10 questions to aid practitioners in their decision-making about optimal pedagogy. The discussions and advice about different teaching methods and when to use them will be of enormous interest and value to teachers and trainers, and IfL will share this widely with our membership.

“A core part of CSD’s work was a review of the literature relating to vocational pedagogy, specifically drawing on IfL’s preparatory work with a sample of our members for the Commission on Adult Vocational Teaching and Learning (CAVTL). Having long called for an independent inquiry into world-class teaching and training in further education and skills, IfL is pleased to be contributing in our distinctive way as the professional body with more than 75,000 members to a new movement focusing on the best ways to improve teaching and learning in the sector. IfL supports members’ action research and holds regional seminars to inform the work of CAVTL; IfL works with leading academics from the universities of Oxford and Cardiff on a new practitioner research programme for teachers and trainers; and we have created several seminars with the 157 Group and Institute of Education on what makes great teaching and learning.

“IfL believes that a consistent focus on the quality of teaching and learning is the most important priority for the FE and skills sector. CSD’s comprehensive report will add to a raised awareness of vocational education’s importance to the UK economy and the development of a highly skilled workforce. The nation’s ability to compete as world-class manufacturers, designers and innovators depends on more people being taught to develop the rich cognitive skills associated with practical and technical learning at the highest level, so it is right that vocational education is currently high on the political agenda.

“IfL agrees with City & Guilds that before addressing the questions of systems and structures, the primary focus should be on pedagogy, to ensure high-quality teaching and training for all learners.”

IfL’s chair, Sue Crowley, said, “As well as being very clear and accessible, with useful frameworks for application, the report clearly recognises the complexity and sophistication of vocational teaching and learning and challenges some of the myths about what makes it effective. The outcomes of the model are applicable to teacher training too, and we applaud the report’s excellent focus on applied learning.”