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Background
The Association of Part-Time Tutors was founded in early 1995 by two part-timers on Tyneside (Lesley Booth and Bob Groves). Initially it was simply a forum that met irregularly to discuss issues around teaching in further and adult education, but as more individuals joined the group it was decided to formalise it into a structured Association. The name itself came from member Bill Swindell, and the initial constitution was devised by Colin Ellis.
Within a year APTT had grown from eight or so tutors to around one hundred members, and thereafter has grown steadily and expanded its remit as experience and ambition developed. With advisory support from the local University & College Union (then NATFHE) and a strong association with the regional Open College Network (OCNNER), APTT developed its skill-sharing practices into a stream of accredited training courses for part-timers, based upon national governmental standards. These enabled APTT to take on a new role as an 'access point' for those adults coming into teaching for the first time, as well as updating the skills of experienced tutors.
In addition, APTT members developed their own non-teaching courses, and APTT was able to get these accredited (thereby attracting funding). This extended the Association's reach from being purely a specialist support group for part-time workers, but also being an adult education provider in its own right; in this case a very special provider - one where there are no 'administrative' or 'managerial' staff! All curriculum development, paperwork, organisation and planning is done by the members themselves on a voluntary basis.
It would be accurate to say that APTT is unique in that it clearly recognises the specific status of part-time workers in education, and especially their very specialised needs (which are best supported by the part-timers themselves). APTT also positively promotes the enormous contribution that part-timers bring to adult education, and wants to value part-time work as a career choice in its own right.
| Frequently Asked Questions | |
| I'm not a teacher or tutor - can I still join APTT? | Anyone can join APTT - it's not essential to be a teacher (or even part-time!), though of course the Association mainly benefits part-time teachers in the UK post-compulsory sector. |
| Where do the members mainly come from? | Members live and work all over the United Kingdom, though most originate from Tyneside. We also have one or two members living outside the UK. |
| What kind of people join the Association? | It has retired, non-working, Associate and Corporate members (affiliate organisations). Most members are tutors, trainers or lecturers working in further, adult or higher education. |
| What is APTT's main Aim? | The APTT's primary aim is to empower part-time teachers in the post-compulsory sector by providing training designed, organised, administered and taught by part-timers |
| Does it have any other functions? | Its other purposes include working to build solidarity, sharing information, monitoring terms/conditions and fighting to raise the professional standing of part-time freelance teaching. |
| Is APTT a trade union? | No, APTT is not a union, and it does not collectively negotiate over terms and conditions. However the APTT does work closely with the main teaching unions (especially UCU) |
| What kind of teacher training does APTT offer? | Most APTT training is through the Association's accredited 'PLATO' programme of professional development courses. |
| What does the acronym PLATO stand for? | PLATO stands for 'Programme of Learning for Adult Teachers and Organisers' |
| What does PLATO consist of? | PLATO is a modular programme of accredited courses at Level 3. Modules can be taken sequentially, concurrently or over a period of time. The modules include courses on interactive teaching methods, learning theory, quality & evaluation, assessment and course design. |
| Does the APTT offer other courses for non-teachers? | There is also an APTT 'general course programme' on subjects unrelated to teacher training, called 'SOCRATES'. These courses are open to any member of the public. |
| Does the APTT work with other organisations? | APTT's training role is often delivered in partnership with many other educational bodies, including WEA Newcastle Branch, Barnardos, Gateshead and North Tyneside Colleges, UCU, Northumberland Adult Education Service, Age Concern, University of Newcastle CLL, Wallsend Peoples Centre, North East and Cumbrian Co-op, etc. |
| How is the APTT organised and administered? | The executive body of the Association is the Council - the APTT's own 'parliament' - that has final say over the affairs and direction of the Association as a whole. Subsidiary to this is the elected 'Working Group' (including the Officers) which handles day-to-day administration. The APTT Working Group meets every other month. All APTT members are entitled to attend full the APTT Council meetings which occur three times a year (one of which is the AGM). |
| If I join APTT, what are the benefits? | Subscribing Members receive the following:
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| OK, how do I join APTT? | See our on-line membership form HERE  |