1. Apprenticeship Quality
Overview
Flemish Delegation
23 May 2018
Philip Edmeades
Standards Policy Lead

2. Why are we reforming apprenticeships?
Rapid Expansion of volumes from 2009 – 2010 – but questionable quality – and too many at lower level and questionable content.
The Richard Review of 2012 – what to do to reform apprenticeships
Current frameworks. “…drive a focus on continuous bureaucratic box-ticking and assessment and obscure the real task of an apprenticeship – to teach new knowledge and skills, and demonstrate to future employers that an apprentice can do their job.”
Let employers design the apprenticeships that are right for them
Establish high quality new standards with all the requirements for each occupation on 1 page; One standard for each occupation
Test apprentices at the end with a holistic end-point assessment to demonstrate occupational competence . Achievement provides professional recognition where required.
Details
2009/10
2010/11
% increase
All age apps
279,000
442,000
58%
25+
49,100
175,500
250%
16-24
230,000
267,000
16%
Asda 25,000
Morrisons 18,000

3. …according to a framework…
Each of these qualifications have their own specification
The Pearson Certificate contains 138 units and is 601 pages long

4. …or according to a standard…

5. Core principles Core principles of a quality apprenticeship:
It is a real job in a skilled occupation;
It requires substantial and sustained training, lasting a minimum of 12 months and involving at least 20% off-the-job training; Currently preparing regulations to re-inforce this;
It develops transferable skills; plus English and maths, to progress careers;
It leads to full competency and capability in an occupation;
It trains the apprentice to the level required to apply for professional recognition, where this exists.
Currently proposing to introduce regulations to strengthen 20% and 12 month minimum requirements.

6. What steps we have taken to raise quality ?
Details
Purpose
Timeline?
Roll out new employer-led apprenticeship standards
Establish high quality standards across all sectors
Standards to replace frameworks by 2020
End Point Assessment for every standard
Confirm that apprentices are occupationally competent.
Established as standards rolled out.
External Quality Assurance of Assessment
Ensure independent assurance of EPA
Managed by Institute for Apps since April 2017
New requirements around duration and content of training
Strengthen funding & regulatory requirements to ensure minimum standards
Established in funding rules in 2016/17:12 month minimum duration and 20% off-job training: Established in regulations Dec 2017
Establish Institute for Apprenticeships
a new Quality Body for Apprenticeships –
Lead on approval of standards and assessment plans; recommends funding bands.
Leads Quality Alliance
IfA established April 2017 to
-approve Apprenticeship stds & assessment plans
- Quality assure delivery of end-point assessments

7. Apprenticeship Quality –partners
DfE
Overall policy on apprenticeships and standards
ESFA:
Funding/Payments
Approval of apprenticeship training providers
Approval of End Point Assessment organisations
Issuing of certificates on behalf of IfA
IFA
Approval of standards and assessment plans
Responsibility for certification on behalf of Secretary of State
Overall responsibility for External Quality Assurance of end-point assessment
Leadership of the Quality Alliance
Ofsted
Inspection of apprenticeship provision
Ofqual (regulates qualifications, exams and tests in England)
Quality assurance of (some) end-point assessment
Quality Assurance Agency
Quality assurance of Degree apprenticeships

8. The wider Quality assurance system for apprenticeships
Minimum duration 12 month and 20% off-thejob: Quality is prioritised throughout.
Who: EPAOs on the ESFA register
Who ; ESFA
Who ; ESFA
Wider Quality Assurance process slide covers the following:
Standards approval process – which we have discussed
Register of Apprenticeship Training Orgs – have to be approved by ESFA
Register of Apprenticeship Assessment Orgs (ESFA)
Apprenticeship Agreement and Commitment statement (signed by employer) and AA now set out in regulations
Inspection of provision (Ofsted/QAA,
End Point Assessment EPAOs on the register
Quality Assurance of EPA by Assurance body (specified) eg Ofqual/QAA/Sector body/IfA
Ongoing evaluation of the programme
Who ; ESFA
& recommends funding band
Who ; ESFA/Ofsted
IfA recommendation to DfE on Funding Band
IfA - leads Quality Alliance

9. Apprenticeship Standards progress so far
To date 275 standards are approved for delivery with a further 262 in development

10. Emerging issues for apprenticeships
Competing pressures of increasing volumes v retaining quality
Availability of new standards and the speed of approval (Institute’s Faster and Better)
Training provider coverage of new standards
End Point Assessment Organisation coverage
Challenges from employers/providers around off-the-job training (20% requirement is seen as too difficult for many)