New guidelines for FE and skills teachers, lecturers and trainers have been issued by the Education and Training Foundation.

A list of 20 “professional standards” — the first since 2007 — fills one side of A4, separated into three headings of values and attributes, knowledge and understanding, and skills.

Among the professional practices listed are “evaluate and challenge your practice, values and beliefs”, “manage and promote positive learner behaviour” and “contribute to organisational development and quality improvement through collaboration with others”.

The list is accompanied by a 22-page guidance document that aims to offer practical examples of how the standards can be applied.

Helen Pettifor, foundation director of professional standards and workforce development, described the standards as “a major milestone for our sector”.

She said: “By working with the whole sector to establish a consistent benchmark as to what constitutes effective practice, we have produced an aspirational set of standards that both unite the sector in the drive for professionalism and excellence, but succeed in being flexible enough to be fully relevant and applicable to whatever part of the sector you’re teaching in.”

Nearly 1,000 sector professionals were involved in the seven-month process of drawing up the standards, which was conducted on behalf of the foundation by Pye Tait Consulting through consultation events, in-depth interviews and an online survey.

The resulting standards replace those issued by Lifelong Learning UK in 2007, and Ofsted, which was involved in the review for the new standards, said they would be used as part of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) and FE and skills inspections.

Marina Gaze, deputy director of FE and skills at Ofsted, said: “To evaluate outcomes inspectors look at completion and employment rates, how well trainees and former trainees teach and how well they attain in relation to the relevant professional standards.

“The 2014 professional standards will replace the 2007 overarching standards in terms of ITE inspections.

“When making judgements about the quality of training on ITE inspections inspectors will look at how the 2014 standards are used with trainees to provide feedback and developmental targets.

“Inspectors will also consider the success of leaders and managers in preparing trainees to meet the 2014 standards.”

Dereth Wood, chair of the foundation’s professional standards steering group, said: “Vocational teaching, learning and assessment has always been a sophisticated professional occupation but in the contemporary world, with rapid change in the workplace, and increasing use of technology for teaching and learning, the need for teachers and trainers to continue to refine and develop their skills is even greater.

“There is a real opportunity for the new professional standards to provide a framework for teachers and trainers to take responsibility for their own professional learning.”

Skills Minister Matthew Hancock said: “The launch of the 2014 standards will play a key role in helping leaders, managers and teachers to improve the quality of their offering for the benefit of learners, employers and the wider economy.”

Institute for Learning chief executive Dr Jean Kelly said: “Presented simply on a single sheet of A4 paper under three headings, the standards summarise the expectations that teachers and trainers set for themselves. Rather than being prescriptive, they offer a framework for teachers and trainers to evaluate and develop their practice, collaborating and sharing with peers.

“The standards provide an excellent foundation for professional conversations about learning and development, and recognise the value of teachers and trainers being able to use their judgement and exercise professional autonomy, to ensure the best outcomes for learners.”

Stella Turner, head of qualifications and delivery at the Association of Employment and Learning Providers, said: “We were involved in producing these standards and wanted to make sure they were relevant to the independent learning sector. We think this has been achieved and the standards are going to be really useful.”

A spokesperson for the foundation said that once teachers, trainers, leaders and managers had started using the new standards, case studies of their use would be produced in spring next year and the guidance would also be updated.

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said: “ATL welcomes the foundation’s publication of new professional standards for teachers and trainers working in the FE and skills sector.”

She added: “It is important that FE and skills teachers and trainers are recognised as professionals who use research and evidence to improve how they teach and are encouraged to take part in professional training throughout their careers — which these standards both encourage and promote.

“It is particularly encouraging that autonomy and trust in teachers in the FE and skills sector are endorsed in the standards. And we look forward to seeing how colleges incorporate these standards into the working lives of our members.”

The Association of Colleges declined to comment.

The number of young people not in education, employment or training (Neet) fell in the first three months of 2014 — but England is still playing catch-up to its European neighbours, a thinktank has warned.

Official figures out today show that 13.5 per cent (975,000) of England’s 16 to 24-year-olds were considered Neet for January to March — down from 14.4 per cent (1.036m) the previous three months.

But the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has pointed to figures from Eurostat, which show England compares unfavorably to countries like Austria, where 7.1 per cent of 15 to 24-year-olds are Neet, and The Netherlands, where the figure is 5.1 per cent.

Tony Dolphin (pictured), chief economist at the IPPR, said: “The latest fall in the number of young people who were not in education, employment or training is welcome, but at 975,000 it remains too high.

“The proportion of young people who are Neet is more than twice as high in the UK as in the European countries with the lowest rates.

“If the economic recovery is sustained, the number of Neets in the UK will fall further, but without action from the government it will remain at an unacceptably high level.

“A comparison of the experience of young people entering the labour market across Europe shows that a strong workplace-based vocational education and training system with a high degree of employer involvement is the key factor in producing a low Neet rate.

“To move towards such a system in the UK, the government needs to do more to involve employers in the design and delivery of vocational education and training; to improve the quality of apprenticeships and traineeships; to make careers advice and guidance better and to establish a distinct benefits system for young people.”

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) also revealed that 53,000 16 and 17-year-olds were Neet between January and March, compared to 66,000 from October to December — a 20 per cent drop.

The government, which said in February that it didn’t recognise the ONS statistics, has once again published its own figures, which Skills Minister Matthew Hancock claimed showed the lowest number of Neets since 2005.

The figures from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Department for Education show there were 774,000 16 to 24-year-old Neets from January to March — a decrease of 135,000 on the previous year and, it is claimed, the lowest rate for the quarter since 2005.

“I am delighted to see that the number of young people not in education, employment or training is at its lowest level since 2005,” said Mr Hancock.

“The figures released today show the progress being made to ensure that all young people are equipped with the skills that allow them to begin productive and prosperous careers. I am particularly pleased to see that the proportion of 16 to 18-year-olds who are Neet, is at the lowest level since records began.

“This is further evidence that our long-term economic plan is securing young people’s future.

“Every young person should be given the chance to reach their potential, whether that is through studying or training, embarking on an apprenticeship or traineeship or entering the world of work.

“Today’s figures show that more and more young people that were previously held back from reaching their full potential are now in work or developing skills that will allow them to become valued employees.”

In documents supplied with the data, the government said long-term trends were similar to those seen in ONS data, but that “different coverage and ages used can lead to some discrepancies” when comparing change between specific points in time.

Joy Mercer (pictured), policy director at the Association of Colleges, said: “Colleges have always had a focus on engaging with young people who drop through the net between school and college.

“They have put in place strategies to ensure that students enrolling at college stay on courses or continue in an apprenticeship by focusing on the students who are the most vulnerable. One of the things which helps colleges is the flexibility allowed by study programmes.

“The trend may not continue because of the uncertainty about Department for Education spending and the recently confirmed cuts to the adult skills budget for 2014-15.”

Of the 975,000 16 to 24-year-olds recorded as Neet between January and March, just 507,000 or 52 per cent, were considered to be “unemployed” because they were looking for or available for work. The other 468,000 were considered to be “economically inactive”.

A spokesperson for the Association of Employment and Learning Providers said: “The overall figures are encouraging because the fall in 18 to 24-year-old Neets shows that we are not just looking at the possible impact that Raising the Participation Age might have had.

“Nevertheless 52 per cent of Neets are looking for work and in partnership with employers, we need to create more apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities for them.”

Chris Jones, chief executive of City & Guilds, said: “It’s great to see fewer people falling into the ‘NEET’ category, but we can’t rest on our laurels. There are still 13.5 per cent of young people in this position, slipping through the cracks. It’s creating a lost generation of talent – and I worry about Britain’s economic future because of it.

“So what’s the solution? How can we help school-leavers take that first step on the career ladder? Firstly, we need a curriculum that teaches young people the skills they need to get on in life, and that employers are actually looking for. Alongside that, we must get better at telling young people about all of the options available to them. Not just university, but apprenticeships and other vocational qualifications too. And to achieve this, we need to give them careers advice that is relevant to the 21st century.

“We all have a role to play. It’s time for educators, employers and the Government to step up and support young people so they are not destined for a lifetime on the dole.”

Learndirect could be in line for a £100m flotation, it has been reported.

According to Education Investor magazine, the training provider’s owner, Lloyds Development Capital (LDC), has appointed Numis Securities to advise on the listing.

Neither Learndirect nor LDC, part of the Lloyds Banking Group, would deny the rumour when pressed by FE Week, but both declined to comment.

The firm, based in Sheffield, West Yorkshire, is one of the UK’s largest providers in the training and e-assessment markets, running apprenticeships for companies including McDonald’s.

Learndirect was launched in 2000 by University for Industry (UfI) and was sold, with UfI ltd, which managed Learndirect, by Ufi Charitable Trust to LDC in 2011 for £40m.

Learndirect then merged with JHP the following year and now has a network of 490 centres and more than 2,000 employees nationwide.

It has a current Skills Funding Agency allocation of more than £154.6m and delivers around 18,000 apprenticeships a year.

The provider received a grade two, good, grading from Ofsted following an inspection in March last year.