What is the Teaching & Learning Academy (TLA)?
The Teacher & Learning Academy has now been re-launched as the Teaching & Learning Academy and has been enhanced to provide a range of learning opportunities through a professional development framework for all staff working in schools and colleges at every career stage.
The new TLA has been taken over by a consortium of Universities and University colleges following the Government's decision to abolish the GTC who had previously run the TLA.
For a brief introduction to the TLA please download the 
TLA Bigger Impact Leaflet FINAL Nov 11.pdf.
So what makes the new Teaching & Learning Academy (TLA) different?
First and foremost, it is now designed with the wider school workforce in mind. It puts individuals in the driving seat of their own learning and allows them to focus on something that really matters in their own practice, at a level that suits their needs and prior qualifications.
Second, it provides the opportunity for individuals to gain accreditation as well as professional recognition for their learning.
Third, it is now a membership organisation with 3 categories of membership - Associate Member, Member and Fellow.
Getting Started with the TLA
Download
this PPT to gain a quick overview of the TLA. The PPT includes useful information on the history of the TLA, its new ownership, how it works in practice, how individuals and organisations can get involved and the benefits of engaging with the TLA
Why join the TLA?
Whether joining as a school or an individual the TLA offers:
A flexible professional development framework with nationally recognised status and academic credits for all school and college staff
- Opportunity to develop in school/college research that will inform improvement
- Opportunity to link TLA learning to the needs of the school/college or individual
- Access to resource and research materials
- Access to a network of contacts and members' directory
- Conferral of membership status- Associate Member (AMTLA), Member (MTLA) and Fellow (FTLA) of the TLA
- 'Badging' as a TLA school/college in recognition of commitment to the professional learning of staff
- Opportunity to bid for TLA development funding
- Updates, events, conferences, publications etc.
What will be the impact on everyday practice?
The key to the Teaching & Learning Academy (TLA) is that it is focused on what matters most to those working in schools: their everyday practice. It provides a framework for staff to test out a new approach or skill within their school or college, then discuss it with others and reflect on how it has worked. In other words, instead of taking staff out of their workplace, the learning takes place in the only realistic environment: inside the school or college.
The reason for this approach to professional development is simple: it’s what those working in schools and colleges have asked for and it’s what research tells us works. What’s more, the Teaching & Learning Academy is built around knowledge sharing and peer recognition: all work submitted by staff for recognition, or accreditation for a University qualification, is evaluated by experienced teachers and HEI Tutors who have been trained for this role.
Find out more about the
background of the TLA.