The course equips students to be effective teachers in the classroom as well as providing them with skills and knowledge to work in the post-compulsory sector of education; teaching placements are arranged for full-time and part-time pre-service students (those who are new to teaching) in situations which meet the requirements laid down by the DIUS for becoming a qualified FE teacher; those wishing to study by the part-time (in-service) route must have appropriate teaching class contact hours in the post-compulsory sector; students have a choice of 3 specialisms: English (ESOL); English (literacy); or mathematics (numeracy); it is a requirement that all new FE teachers must complete an SVUK-endorsed teacher training qualification as the first step in obtaining QTLS (Qualified Teacher for the Learning and Skills Sector); the course does not lead to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) to teach in schools.