IfL patron Helena Kennedy QC champions teachers and teaching
22 May 2013 01:48 PM
Baroness Helena Kennedy QC has paid tribute to all those who teach across further education and skills, including in prisons, for the difference they make to the lives and life chances of young people and adult learners. In her inaugural speech as a patron of the Institute for Learning (IfL), at an event hosted by IfL in partnership with the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (Niace) to mark Adult Learners’ Week, Baroness Kennedy also announced new support for those who already teach in prisons and for those who wish to qualify as teachers to do so.
“IfL has more than 1,500 members who teach in prisons, and their views are informing the new Prisoners’ Learning Alliance through IfL. My praise goes out to them. Every teacher is likely at some point to teach someone who has been an offender. I thank you in advance for the difference you will make to them as they stay on ‘the straight’ and make a life, and as they contribute to society and the economy ever more positively.
“In my view, every day that a prisoner is not learning is a day wasted. And, of course, they rely on well-qualified and expert teachers and trainers to help them break the cycle of reoffending, to realise their talents and to put these to good use in employment and in their communities when they get out.
“I am pleased to announce today new support for teachers who currently work in prisons, and those who want to qualify to do so. The University of Wolverhampton, with IfL, has established a joint research and development centre, CRADLE, and in partnership with Birmingham City University is developing a new initial teacher education route for teachers in offender learning settings, as well as a specialist continuing professional development option with master’s level credits for those teaching in offender learning.
“Teachers are dual professionals: specialists in the subject or vocational area, as well as in teaching methods. These new specialist and accredited options for teachers in offender learning being announced today will add a third dimension, creating ‘triple’ professionals who become nationally recognised experts in helping offenders learn most effectively.”
The event also featured a series of short films about adult learners who have received Adult Learners’ Week awards in previous years, followed by interviews with them and their tutors.
IfL’s chief executive, Toni Fazaeli, said, “The partnership between teachers and their learners is absolutely central – and it is magic. We heard from learners that teachers’ belief in them, their encouragement, as well as their expert teaching, completely turned their lives around for the better. Learners said teachers are too modest and generously give their students all the credit; they are the most generous ‘givers’. Today’s celebration is to make sure teachers and trainers get the credit they truly deserve and are recognised nationally as true noble professionals. Baroness Kennedy’s association with IfL as a distinguished patron will raise the esteem and status of further education teachers and trainers. IfL as their professional body continues to promote the standing of teachers and supports thousands of individual teachers’ and trainers’ professional practice and career development; just as other professional bodies do for members of their profession.”
IfL member Cheryl Powell, who was taken into foster care at the age of 14, described her experiences of being addicted to drugs and being “in a bad place” before she decided to change her life. When she joined the Prince’s Trust team at City College Plymouth, she had only one qualification to her name. Ten years later, she is a qualified teacher with Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status, conferred by IfL, has undertaken several courses, and is team leader. “It’s Steve, my tutor, and the learning that got me to where I am,” she said. “I’m a manager here as well. And I would never have dreamed of anything like that.”
Her tutor, Steve Murphy, also an IfL member with QTLS, said, “Cheryl’s work with the Prince’s Trust team, helping get young people into employment and further education, has given her a purpose in her life. She makes a massive effort to get our young people into employment and education: 86 per cent of them achieve positive outcomes.”
Niace chief executive David Hughes said, “The joint event today with IfL was a great way to celebrate the role of tutors, teachers and trainers as part of Adult Learners' Week. Every learner who wins an award owes so much to the teaching and support staff who have helped them achieve; today we saw the reality of that with previous Adult Learners' Week winners thanking and honouring the tutor who was so special to them. They are the unsung heroes who do so much to improve people's life chances. I was proud to be working with IfL to be part of the celebration."
The films about previous Adult Learners’ Week award winners are available online: