On 10 May 2010 the Awards Committee adjusted the College of Teachers Qualification Framework (COTQF) to include all TESOL Level One courses at Level 5 National Qualifications Framework (NQF) equivalent.

The COTQF describes the level of achievement that is benchmark equivalent to assessment levels of national and higher education qualifications. Both the NQF and the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) set out the levels against which a qualification can be recognised in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The College of Teachers is a member of the Southern England Consortium for Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SEEC) and has aligned the COTQF with the SEEC level descriptors to ensure TCOT’s qualifications are placed at the correct levels.

At the Awards Committee meeting held on 1 March 2010, the Committee queried the entry requirements for candidates entering the Advanced Certificate in TESOL and the Associateship in TESOL. Research showed that the British Council endorses the entry requirements of such Colleges as Trinity which prescribe a minimum age of 18 to 21 as acceptable as an entry requirement to Level 4 (NQF) and Level 5 (NQF) qualifications.

This led to further investigation into the requirements and assessment criteria of the qualifications offered by other awarding bodies.  On 1 March 2010 Trinity College London’s CertTESOL was reaccredited from Level 4 to Level 5 due to developments in qualifications and standards for teacher training provision.

The TESOL Level One courses offered by TCOT meet, if not exceed, the same requirements of those of other awarding bodies at Level 5 (NQF).

Distance learning and online learning TESOL programmes were assessed at Level 5 (NQF) and all face-to-face and ‘hybrid’ courses were assessed at Level 4 (NQF) equivalent to match those offered by other awarding bodies. Both these programmes were considered to be TCOT TESOL Level One courses and were only distinguished by the face-to-face Teaching Practice element.

To allow candidates to achieve the full benefits of a course equal to the Associateship but enhanced through the Teaching Practice, The College of Teachers will now offer all TCOT TESOL Level One courses at level 5 as Associateship and Associateship with Teaching Practice.

On 5 July 2010 the Awards Committee further decided to combine the Diploma TESOL and the Advanced Diploma of Educational Studies TESOL (TCOT TESOL Level TWO) to make the qualification clearer to employers. The course which meets the requirements of a Level 6 (NQF) equivalent will be defined exclusively by Teacher Practice. For candidates that have still to complete their Diploma TESOL will be awarded an Advanced Diploma in TESOL at Level 6 (NQF) equivalent but will not receive the notation of ‘with Teaching Practice’.

From 30 July 2010 the above changes will be reflected in certification and all publications. Candidates currently holding the Advanced Certificate at Level 4 are advised to print a copy of this statement to attach to their certificate when seeking employment and/or further training opportunities.  Former candidates who have lost their Level 4 certificates will have to follow the usual procedures in applying for a replacement, and this will state Level 4 as this was the original level of their certificate.  All certificates for candidates whose courses ended on or after 30 July 2010 will receive Level 5 certificates. Diploma and Advanced Diploma candidates are not affected.