There were so many announcements last week, that I thought it may be helpful to summarise the details alongside the hyperlinks to the key webpages.
I have also added some considerations in italics as I was concerned by the differing interpretations and conclusions being drawn after the announcements last week.
IT IS CRITICAL TO REMEMBER THAT FURTHER DETAIL ON IMPLEMENTATION, AND THE UPDATED APPRENTICESHIP FUNDING RULES WILL BE PUBLISHED SOON, so please bear that in mind when reading, as things WILL gain greater clarity over the next few weeks.
English and Maths
Initial announcement 11th Feb:
- “Businesses will now be able to decide whether adult learners over the age of 19 when they start their apprenticeship course will need to complete a level 2 English and maths qualification (equivalent to GCSE) in order to pass it.” ??
- “changes to English and maths requirements coming into effect immediately”
- ”It does not mean that apprentices won’t be assessed on core English and maths skills relevant to their occupation “? (please note the IfATE website uses a slightly different set of words “This does not mean that apprentices won’t be assessed on core English and maths skills needed to demonstrate competency relevant to their occupation, these requirements will remain a fundamental part of the apprenticeship”
Further detail has since been provided by DfE:
- “Effective immediately, all new and existing adult apprentices, who were aged 19 and over at the start of their apprenticeship training, will no longer be required to hold or achieve English and maths qualifications to pass their apprenticeship.” (please note - this update does not seem to reference levels of maths and English, so it may require clarification)
- “Instead, apprentices will demonstrate their proficiency through the development and assessment of occupationally relevant English and maths skills as part of their apprenticeship.”
- “Apprentices who are aged 16 to 18 at the start of their training, will still be required to achieve English and maths qualifications to support their career progression.”
- “Funding will continue to be available for English and maths qualifications for all apprentices, including those aged 19 and over, when either the employer or apprentice feels this is required.”
- “Employers and providers will have until 1 April 2025 to agree with their existing adult apprentice(s) whether to continue or discontinue studying towards English and maths and will need to update their training plans accordingly.” (please note - the initial press release talked about businesses deciding, whereas the further detail released by DfE refers to employers and providers agreeing with the apprentice, so it may require clarification. It will also mean that the gateway process will need to be updated to take account of this change)
Additional information on the IfATE website:
?“The English and maths exit requirements will be optional for apprentices who are aged 19+ at the start of their apprenticeship training. The policy change will be effective from 11 February 2025” (refer to blue box)
“Learners aged 16-18 will still be required to achieve English and maths qualifications”
Apprenticeship Duration
Initial announcement 11th Feb:
- “The minimum duration of an apprenticeship will be reduced to eight months, down from the current minimum of 12 months.”
- “Three trailblazer apprenticeships in key shortage occupations will look to pioneer the new shorter apprenticeship approach, with apprentices in green energy, healthcare and film/TV production set to be able to take on these new courses.”?
- “Changes to the minimum length of an apprenticeship will be introduced from August 2025 subject to the legislative timetable”??
- “One of Skills England’s first orders of business will be to identify which apprenticeships would be best served by the shorter duration approach. Skills England will prioritise key shortage occupations as per the industrial strategy, helping to boost growth under our Plan for Change.”?
Further detail has since been provided by DfE:
- “This change means apprentices will be able to achieve occupational competence more quickly, where that makes sense, for example because they have significant prior learning, or their industry works to a different rhythm.” (Please note the use of the words “where this makes sense”, which suggests further detail will be provided on the rules / principles around this)
- Shorter apprenticeships will benefit: (a) apprentices who have significant prior learning, where the 12-month rule means they are currently ineligible to upskill through an apprenticeship; (b) ? all apprentices on certain standards, where full competence can be delivered more quickly
- We expect some of the first shorter apprenticeships to be available to: (a) Level 2 Healthcare Support Workers (Health and Social Care); (b) Level 3 Production Assistants- Screen and Audio (Creative and Design); (c) Level 2 Dual Fuel Smart Meter Installers (Construction and the Built Environment) - (please note it will therefore be a staged approach with the DfE / Employers / Skills England determining which apprenticeships)
- "We will continue to work with Employers and Skills England to identify where this new flexibility will create other opportunities and set out more details in due course."
End-point Assessment
Detail provided by DfE
- “Where appropriate, apprentices will be assessed on some things during their apprenticeship rather than all at the end, and training providers may be able to deliver elements of the assessment, rather than having to rely on external assessors.” ?(Please note the words, “where appropriate” and “may”. This suggests further detail will be provided on the rules / principles around this)
- "The government is also ensuring apprentices don’t have to be re-tested on the same skills they have already demonstrated, such as by taking a mandatory industry exam, to avoid wasting apprentices’ time.”
Further detail has since been provided by DfE:
- The assessment process will be streamlined by enabling more design and delivery flexibility so that: (a) assessment is more proportionate to the competency being tested and removes any duplication ; (b) where appropriate, assessment plans can be designed to allow assessment to take place on programme; (c) where appropriate, training providers will be able to deliver elements of the assessment. End-point Assessment Organisations (EPAOs) will continue to shape the assessment and ensure the validity of outcomes (please note the use of the words "where appropriate", and that EpAOs will continue to shape the assessment. I assume 'where appropriate will need to be defined by DfE / Skills England?)
- These changes will apply to all apprenticeships, at all levels. Existing assessment plans will be rewritten on a standard-by-standard basis to reflect these changes, with the first plans being revised from April 2025. (please note although the principles will apply to all apprenticeships, they will be re-written on a standard by standard basis which means that changes will take time)
The same webpage has also provided the detail on the new assessment principles
- "IFATE / Skills England will convene a group of employers together with assessment and delivery experts to develop the improved Assessment Plans.?"
- "As is currently the case, EPAOs will be responsible for developing all assessment materials in accordance with the Assessment Plans."??(please note EpAOs remain responsible for developing all assessment materials)
- External Quality Assurance will continue to be provided by the designated body with responsibility for regulating the assessment for each standard (Ofqual / OfS / small number of industry regulatory bodies), which should inform any further revisions of the Plan.?(please note - I find this interesting as Ofqual does not provide EQA it regulates which is different)
- As they do now in apprenticeships, employers are best placed to confirm apprentices are demonstrating the required behaviours. To remove unnecessary duplication, those behaviours will no longer need to be separately assessed by providers or EPAOs, who will focus on assessing essential knowledge and skills.?
- Assessment Plans will set out where assessment may be undertaken by the EPAO or apprenticeship training provider, where appropriate. Exceptions will be necessary for instance where an external body must be involved for regulatory reasons.??(please note the use of the words "where appropriate" which suggests further detail is due to issued in terms of what is meant by 'where appropriate')
- Where assessment is undertaken by the provider, EPAOs will need to determine how best to quality assure this, in accordance with the regulatory requirements of the designated body for that standard.??(please note where end-point assessments are undertaken by training providers, the training provider will need to become an approved Centre of the EpAO, in line with Ofqual Condition C2)
- "Existing assessment plans will be rewritten on a standard-by-standard basis to reflect these changes. Further detail on implementation, including which assessment plans will be revised and when, will follow in due course."
The same webpage has also provided the detail of what the new assessment plans will look like.
Payment Simplification
Please note that I have not looked into the detail of this, but wanted to share the weblink
I hope this detail is helpful.
Please remember not to jump to conclusions and wait for the detail and clarifications from DfE.
Education and Policy Specialist
1 周Excellent information as always- thank you Jacqui
Business Manager - Education & Training at TPP Recruitment
1 周Super helpful, thanks!
Inclusive Leadership Infinite Potential Transforming Education & Quality Assurance | Expert in Apprenticeships, Qualifications, & Project/Risk Management
1 周Very informative, thank you for distilling the plethora of change. Looking forward to further detail and clarification.
Helping to create a strong and appropriate future for employers and their apprentices in engineering and manufacturing.
1 周Very helpful
Transport Manager
2 周I'm still confused what this means for the L2 apprenticeships when the requirements only that they achieve L1......I see a lot of references to L2 qualifications, do I just assume that the same applies to L1?