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Masters in Teaching and Learning (MTL)Masters in Teaching and Learning (MTL)
See www.tda.gov.uk/mtl for the latest updates.
Around 5,000 NQTs were expected to sign up for the new Masters in Teaching and Learning (MTL) qualification which started in England in the academic year 2009-10, but what is the MTL, who does it benefit and how does it affect you? The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) produced the following article (August 2009), giving further information.
1. What is the MTL?
The Masters in Teaching and Learning (MTL) is a new government-funded professional qualification.
It is an on-the-job qualification that is classroom-based and tailored to help new teachers improve their knowledge and understanding of teaching practice. The skills and knowledge of an experienced teacher, acting as a coach, plus the involvement of an HEI tutor, support the participant throughout their MTL.
For 2009/10, the MTL is open to all NQTs taking up post from September 2009 in schools in the North West region, National Challenge schools and other priority schools in challenging circumstances. See www.tda.gov.uk/mtl for further details.
The MTL itself has three phases:
The Masters programme is expected to take approximately three years to complete although each phase may be of a different duration depending on the needs of the participant.
2. Why is the MTL being introduced?
The practice-based nature of the MTL aims to help teachers develop and improve their teaching skills to become even better teachers.
The MTL is part of a wider offer of professional development in schools. Ongoing training and development is crucial to helping school staff be the best that they can be and providing the best education and outcomes for our children today.
3. How will it be delivered?
The MTL programme will be largely classroom-based and participants will be supported in their learning by a trained in-school coach who will be an experienced teacher – the coach role is an integral part of MTL. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) will validate that the programme is genuinely at masters level and provide a tutor for each participant who will have a lead role in assessing progress.
4. When will it be available and to whom?
In the first year of its rollout, the MTL is available to all NQTs taking up post from September 2009 in schools in the North West region, National Challenge schools and other priority schools in challenging circumstances across the country. Participants will enrol on MTL in January 2010 and start in summer 2010. All can register now by visiting www.tda.gov.uk/mtl.
Some challenging secondary schools are also offering a recruitment and retention incentive of £10,000 over three years, access to a network of teachers and enhanced professional development opportunities – see www.tda.gov.uk/challenge.
5. What are the benefits of the MTL to teachers and schools?
NQTs looking to develop their professional practice and enhance their teaching and learning will receive on-going support throughout their early years of teaching and should develop life-long learning skills designed to help them meet the demands of teaching in the 21st Century.
Schools: By providing support to NQTs in the early years of their teaching career, the MTL should help lead to higher levels of staff retention as well as help to increase the culture of professional learning in schools.
6. What is the difference between the MTL coach and tutor?
Teachers in schools will act as MTL coaches for each participant. They will provide on-the-job coaching, support and encouragement to NQTs for the duration of MTL. The TDA is currently developing a programme of preparation and support for in-school coaches with guidance scheduled to be released later this year. Teachers who are in-school coaches will undergo training in advance.
The tutor will be provided by the HEI and will have the lead role in assessing the progress of the teacher undertaking the MTL. They will be jointly responsible with the coach for ensuring that participants get the most out of the MTL programme.
7. What is the role of the Head teacher?
Head teachers, as school leaders, will already have plans for developing their workforce. Head teachers are encouraged to advertise their vacancies with MTL where appropriate. Guidance on this will be available at www.tda.gov.uk/mtl.
8. How is the MTL different from existing M-level qualifications for teachers?
The MTL’s key feature is the fact that it is a national programme delivered locally. It is practice-based, progressively building on Initial Teacher Training and induction to have immediate relevance to teaching and learning in the classroom. This makes the qualification very personalised to the needs of the learner.
9. How much money will this mean for schools in the North West, National Challenge and other challenging schools?
£30 million is available over the next two years for the initial rollout of MTL, and up to an additional £25 million will be made available to fund MTL for teachers in National Challenge schools in 2009-11. It will flow from DCSF to TDA to HEIs and schools. Funding for schools will be ring-fenced and passed on to them via HEIs.
10. What should NQTs do next?
NQTs considering the MTL can register their interest on the TDA Website (www.tda.gov.uk/mtl). Teachers and head teachers can also sign-up for updates about MTL by visiting this link.
Fast facts
Myths
1. All teachers will have to do the MTL
Participation in the MTL programme is voluntary. In the academic year 2009/10, the offer of MTL is for NQTs appointed to schools in the North West and to NQTs appointed to National Challenge and other challenging schools. NQTs are encouraged to make the most of this opportunity to be the first to undertake MTL. It is intended that the MTL will be available to all teachers in time.
2. MTL is not happening until next year
Although NQTs will not start the MTL until the summer of 2010, they will need to enrol in January 2010. NQTs can register at www.tda.gov.uk/mtl now for a provider to contact them nearer the time.
3. Teachers will have to pay for the MTL
The MTL is fully government funded.
4. It will fast-track NQTs ahead of other teachers
The MTL is not a replacement for experience; it has been designed to develop teachers’ skills and abilities so that they can increase their effectiveness in the classroom.
5. It’s not a real master’s
The MTL will be/is accredited at master’s level and will be/is the equivalent of any other master’s qualification.
FAQs on Masters in Teaching and Learning (MTL) (TDA)
11 December 2009: "New progression opportunities as part of the Masters in Teaching and Learning offer" "Experienced teachers who sign up as coaches for the new Masters in Teaching and Learning (MTL) will benefit from their involvement, the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) announced today." Further details
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