WORCESTER MP Mike Foster today welcomed the Government's announcement that all new further education teachers will be required to have a formal teaching qualification.

The measures aimed at driving up standards were announced by Baroness Blackstone and supported by an £80m investment in training and development.

All new college principals will also be required to hold a National Professional Qualification for Principals.

Mr Foster, a former FE lecturer at Worcester College of Technology, sits on the Education Select Committee and is secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Further Education Group.

"This announcement will be a real boost to the status of FE teachers," said Mr Foster.

"It will make a real difference to students, who will see improved teaching leading to better student achievement.

"Existing FE teachers will also benefit from enhanced funding to pay for continuing professional development."

Mr Foster has been working with Geoff Terry, chief executive of FENTO, the national training standards body for further education, and other colleagues since entering parliament.

He said he is delighted to see the Government taking action.

"I've seen FE teachers pay fall behind other similar professions over the years and this announcement enables moves to be made to correct this anomaly," said Mr Foster.

Terry Dillingham, assistant principal at Worcester College of Technology, said he is delighted with the announcement.

"We believe this is an important aspect of quality in our sector," he said. "One hundred per cent of our full-time staff are teacher trained.

"When our principal joined 10 years ago he came with a background in Scottish further education and wanted teacher-trained lecturers.

"We have a gentleman's agreement that anyone not teacher trained gets the qualification from Wolverhampton University."

Part-time staff at the college are encouraged to study for a City and Guilds qualification.

"We're pleased with the announcement," said Mr Dillingham. "But it is in line with our policy."