Technical and Vocational Professional Development Programme

On behalf of the Department for Education (DfE), the Association of Colleges (AoC) is delivering a national Technical and Vocational Subject Teaching Professional Development (TVPD) programme to support the effective implementation and successful delivery of technical and vocational qualifications across the further education sector.

The programme sits at the heart of post-16 education reform, supporting providers to deliver quality T Levels, V Levels and Level 2 pathways with confidence, and consistency. It is designed to strengthen teaching practice, develop subject expertise and ensure learners across the country benefit from high-quality technical education.

High-quality professional development (PD) is critical for driving continuous improvement across the sector. Within this programme, PD goes beyond traditional training. It is evidence-informed, collaborative and rooted in current industry practice, enabling teachers and leaders to continuously develop their subject knowledge, pedagogical expertise, innovation and understanding of employer expectations.

The programme is structured across four interconnected strands:

• Strand one: subject-specific professional development, focused on building teaching capability, confidence and subject expertise across all pathways
• Strand two: industry engagement, ensuring teaching practice reflects current employer practice and workforce needs
• Strand three: collaboration and networks, supporting peer learning and sharing of best practice across the sector
• Strand four: organisational and leadership support, strengthening planning, provider readiness and long-term capability.

These strands work together to create a coherent national approach to workforce development, while remaining responsive to regional skills priorities. 

An advisory board of sector experts and membership bodies will ensure that all provider types, employers and awarding organisations (AOs) are properly represented and included in the programme. To date, members of the board include the Association of School and College Leaders, the Confederation of School Trusts, Baker Dearing Trust, the Federation of Awarding Bodies, and the Skills Federation.