The Professional Discussion (Viva) in the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (FE & Skills)
In Further Education and Skills, we are rightly asking more of our teachers. Not just that they teach, but that they reflect, adapt, evidence impact and act professionally across increasingly complex roles.
Within the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (FE & Skills), the Professional Discussion (Viva) plays a critical role in assessing this occupational competence. When designed and used well, it moves assessment beyond written assignments and provides a powerful, authentic insight into a teacher’s real practice.
This article explores what the Professional Discussion is, why it matters, and how it can be recorded robustly within the trainee teacher’s portfolio, aligned to the 9 duties of a Learning & Skills Teacher.
What is the Professional Discussion (Viva)?
The Professional Discussion is a structured, teacher educator-led conversation that enables the trainee teacher to:
Reflect on their own teaching practice
Explain the why behind professional decisions
Demonstrate integrated Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs)
Draw together evidence already contained within their portfolio
Rather than testing recall of theory, the discussion explores applied competence in context how the trainee teacher operates day to day within Further Education and Skills.
It is particularly valuable for:
Teachers with prior vocational or teaching experience
Those who may not always articulate their practice fully in writing
Assessing professional judgement, values and behaviours
Why the Professional Discussion Matters in FE & Skills
Teaching in FE is not linear. Teachers balance:
Diverse learner profiles
Employer and industry expectations
Safeguarding, inclusion and professional boundaries
Quality assurance and accountability
Progression, destinations and outcomes
The Professional Discussion allows teacher educators to explore how trainee teachers navigate this complexity, rather than simply whether they can describe it in an assignment.
Used effectively, it:
Strengthens assessment validity
Supports inclusive assessment practice
Encourages deep reflection
Provides confidence to IQAs and EQAs
Structuring the Discussion: The 9 Duties of a Learning & Skills Teacher
The Professional Discussion within the Level 5 Diploma can be structured around the 9 core duties of a Learning & Skills Teacher, ensuring full occupational coverage.
A structured question bank (for example, 10 questions per duty) allows teacher educators to sample across duties while probing depth, impact and reflection.
Crucially, not every question needs to be asked. The discussion should remain responsive to the trainee teacher’s evidence and experience.
What Teacher Educators Should Be Listening For
Effective professional discussions move beyond description. Teacher Educators should listen for:
Specific examples from the learner’s own practice
Clear links between actions and learner impact
Evidence of reflection and improvement over time
Integration of knowledge, skills and behaviours, not isolated theory
Understanding of the FE & Skills context, not generic teaching language
Simple prompts such as “What impact did that have on learners?” or “What would you do differently now?” often reveal far more than scripted answers.
Recording the Professional Discussion in the Portfolio
A common concern is: “If it’s a conversation, how do we evidence it?”
The answer lies in structured, proportionate recording, not transcription.
Within the trainee teachersr portfolio, the Professional Discussion should be captured through a one-page Professional Discussion Record, which includes:
Trainee Teacher and Teacher Educator details
Date and duration of the discussion
Confirmation that it covered the 9 duties
Concise teacher educator summaries for each duty
Portfolio evidence referenced during the discussion
Rubric decisions (Pass / Excellent / Refer)
Teacher Educator rationale
Learner and assessor declarations
This creates a clear audit trail showing:
What was assessed
How competence was demonstrated
How decisions were made
It also supports IQA sampling, EQA review and DofE scrutiny.
Quality Assurance and Professional Confidence
From a quality perspective, the Professional Discussion:
Strengthens triangulation alongside observations and written work
Supports fair assessment for diverse trainee teachers
Encourages consistent assessor judgement when paired with a clear rubric
Provides confidence that standards are being met in practice, not just on paper
For trainee teachers, it offers something equally important:
professional validation — the opportunity to articulate their identity, values and growth as an FE teacher.
Final Thoughts
The Professional Discussion (Viva) should never feel like an interrogation or a box-ticking exercise. When aligned to the Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (FE & Skills) and underpinned by clear structure, it becomes:
A reflective professional conversation
A robust assessment method
A quality-assured record of competence
A powerful moment of professional recognition
In a sector built on people, practice and progression, that matters.