The Education and Training Foundation has promised that members of the Institute for Learning will have a “key role” to play in the organisation’s future.

Last night the advisory council of the IfL, England’s professional body for FE lecturers, voted that the body should close and pass its legacy and assets over to the Education and Training Foundation (ETF) by the autumn.

Earlier this month it was revealed that the IfL would not be financially sustainable in future without significant investment.

The body shed almost 150,000 members in recent years after government funding cuts led to it being forced to raise the membership fee.

David Russell, chief executive of the ETF (pictured), said it started to receive phone calls and emails from concerned IfL members when the news broke.

“It was clear from these early conversations how important professional status is to the IfL members,” he said.

“It underpins their professional identity, informs their career planning and is integral to their effectiveness as practitioners.”

He said the aims of the ETF were complementary to those of the IfL and described the opportunity to take on its work as “an excellent strategic fit”, which would help the foundation evolve.

“We believe that teaching and training in our sector should be seen as a high status profession, its reputation flowing from high quality outcomes,” he said. 

“Teachers and trainers should be encouraged to exercise professional autonomy and take ownership of their own CPD in the interests of improved teaching and learning and for the benefit of learners.

“Through their association with the foundation in future, IfL members can play a key role in our organisation, in line with our mission to enhance the performance and professionalism of the education and training system.”

Sue Crowley, IfL’s elected chair, said the decision to close was not taken lightly.

“It is vital that teachers and trainers in further education and skills should have a strong voice and I hope that IfL members will take the opportunity to help shape their future professional membership body and ensure that their experience and expertise translates into continuing improvements in teaching and learning,” she said.

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Why the doomed IfL’s work must continue - July 2014

Institute for Learning to close over fears it will run out of money - July 2014

Toni Fazaeli retires as chief executive of Institute for Learning - April 2014