Under the reforms, announced by the Department for Education (DfE) today (11 February), businesses will be able to decide whether learners over the age of 19 when they start their apprenticeship course will need to complete a Level 2 English and maths qualification in order to pass it.
The DfE states that ‘it does not mean that apprentices won’t be assessed on core English and maths skills relevant to their occupation, but it does mean that apprentices will be able to focus more on their paid work.’
The minimum duration of an apprenticeship will also be reduced from the current 12 months to eight months.
The changes are designed to boost the number of people completing an apprenticeship and more quickly.
The DfE says the reforms could mean as many as 10,000 more apprentices per year will be able to complete their apprenticeship.
The education minister, Bridget Phillipson, said, ‘Growing the economy and opportunity for all are fundamental Missions of our Plan for Change, and we are determined to support apprentices throughout this National Apprenticeship Week and beyond.
‘Businesses have been calling out for change to the apprenticeship system and these reforms show that we are listening. Our new offer of shorter apprenticeships and less red tape strikes the right balance between speed and quality, helping achieve our number one mission to grow the economy.
‘Skills England will be a major driver in addressing the skills gaps needed to support employers up and down the country and I look forward to working with the new leadership.’
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), said, ‘We have heard from many nurseries who have highly skilled and talented apprentices who are unable to complete their qualifications due to the existing requirements, especially around maths. Reform of these requirements for adult apprentices will bring them into line with the updated level 3 requirements in the EYFS.
However, she stressed that providers will need sector specific information so that they can prepare for these changes.
