CELTA
Code of practice
for course
trainers and
assessors
September 2024 edition
Code of Practice for CELTA trainers and assessors
This Code of Practice sets out the minimum standards for people working on CELTA
courses. It is designed to serve as a reference guide for making decisions and how to
conduct ourselves as CELTA professionals. Trainers, assessors and others working
on CELTA courses are required to work within these guidelines in order to maintain
their accreditation status.
Professional conduct
• Treat all candidates professionally and create an appropriate atmosphere, ensuring
that every candidate has equal opportunity to perform to the best of their ability
• Treat candidates, colleagues and other centre staff with politeness and respect at all
times and never be physically violent in any way to candidates, colleagues or other
members of centre or Cambridge English staff or representatives
• Use polite and appropriate language, and not swear or use other offensive language
(for example racist, sexist or any form of discriminatory language)
• Receive and respond to requests from the CEM, JCA, candidates, course assessors,
Cambridge English and other CELTA stakeholders in a professional and respectful
manner
• Process any grievances through the appropriate systems and official channels
• Adhere to the dress codes of the centre(s) they are engaged by and behave in a
culturally appropriate manner at all times
• Always consider ways in which the impact of business activities on both the
environment and society at large can be reduced
• Respond to any reports or allegations of harassment, discrimination, bullying, or any
other type of intimidation seriously, help the reporter decide what they should do
next, and ensure that confidentiality is maintained
• Make appropriate adjustments as agreed between the centre and Cambridge to
ensure equal access for all candidates taking CELTA, regardless of gender, ethnic
origin, age, disability or religion.
Compliance
• Follow Cambridge English guidance before, during and after CELTA courses
• Complete annual standardisation according to the timetables and quality standards
published by Cambridge English
• Comply with the requirements outlined throughout Code of Practice for CELTA
trainers and assessors
• Comply with data protection and confidentiality with regard to candidate information
• Ensure that you do not use the Cambridge name or your position as an accredited
CELTA tutor to market yourself or your services outside official CELTA courses
• Ensure that candidate written work remains confidential and is not used for training
purposes outside official CELTA courses
• Submit the relevant forms to Cambridge English within the applicable deadlines
• Provide course assessors and other stakeholders with requested documentation
• Meet the minimum requirements for training on courses as stipulated in the CELTA
Administration Handbook or according to any temporary arrangements in force
• If the minimum requirements for training on courses are not met, agree to complete
refresher training as stipulated in the Trainer-in-Training Guidelines or in accordance
with temporary arrangements in force.
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Maintaining standards
• Assess according to the assessment criteria, standards and guidelines provided by
Cambridge English.
• Work closely with and support the centres where the trainer is engaged, and raise
any issues immediately with Cambridge English or the JCA for the centre
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all relevant staff
• Maintain a thorough knowledge of this Code of Practice and adhere to its standards
• Demonstrate consistent grading within acceptable parameters
• Take relevant action as a result of feedback and respond positively to feedback
• Carefully read any information sent to CELTA trainers by the CEM, JCA or
Cambridge English.
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All details are correct at the time of publication in August 2024.