City & Guilds Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (Formerly DTLLS)

DTLLS is the acronym for the Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong learning Sector. It may be offered to pre-service and in-service candidates on a part-time or full-time basis and is awarded at level 5 upon completion.

The diploma meets the qualification requirements for the full teaching role. It comprises level 4 (part one) and level 5 (part two) mandatory units and optional units.

The total minimum credit value required of this qualification is 120 credits on the QCF. You may carry forward credits and receive accreditation of prior learning (APL) for the PTLLS unit or 7303 Award and the Planning and Enabling Learning unit within 7304 CTLLS if previously achieved. Optional unit credits completed as part of the CTLLS may not count towards the level 5 diploma qualifications

Teaching practice

You will be required to undertake a minimum of 150 hours teaching practice. This time falls into your non-contact hours within the programme, and excludes micro-teaching or teaching practice completed as part of the PTLLS unit within CTLLS, or 7303 PTLLS Award.

Practice completed for the theory assessment at either level 3 or level 4 for the Planning and enabling learning unit is also excluded. This teaching practice may be delivered across a range of cohorts.

Observation requirement

You will need to be observed for at least eight hours over a minimum of eight occasions of your 150 teaching practice hours. Each observation must be for a minimum of 30 minutes and must take place in your place of work. Observations will be throughout the duration of the programme. It is recommended that most observations would be for a minimum of one hour.

Teaching observation excludes observed practice completed as part of the PTLLS unit within DTLLS, or 7303 PTLLS Award. The theory assessment in the Planning and enabling learning unit at level 3 or level 4, and mentor observations are also excluded.

Teaching practice portfolio

You will be required to keep one teaching practice portfolio across the full programme. The portfolio should be a concise log of teaching practice undertaken and should include your log of 150 hours teaching and evidence relating to your learners, session planning, delivery and evaluation. It will include at least eight observations of your teaching by the course team.

 Reflective learning journal

You will be required to write a Reflective Learning Journal from the commencement of the programme, which will encompasses your own learning and teaching practice.

It is expected that the journal provides the basis for meeting the required assessment outcomes. Only one Reflective Learning Journal is required across the full programme. You may use your own journal format or the pro formas provided.

IfL registration

It is recommended that you register with the IfL as near to the commencement of the programme as possible. Full details and guidance are available from the IfL (website address on links).

Minimum qualification and level requirements to enter this award

You should be qualified to level 3 or be able to demonstrate level 3 skills in the subject that you intend to teach, have access to 150 teaching practice hours and possess reasonable levels of language, literacy, numeracy and ICT.

Assessment 

You will be required to complete nine unit assignments. One is the PTLLS at level 3 or 4, then part one of the DTLLS consists of four units at level 4, part two of the DTLLS consists of four units at level 5.

You will need to have access too, and evidence, 150 hours of teaching practice and be observed eight times. You will also be required to keep an ongoing reflective learning journal and a teaching practice portfolio.