apprenticeships | FE Week

Government is making dangerous errors on apprenticeship assessment

Although the new policy on assessment organisations is intended to drive down overall costs, it’s likely to impact quality at this critical time in the reform programme, says Rob May Imagine you own a plumbing business. Your business is contracted to fit the water supply for a newly designed hotel complex. The plans look challenging, […]

Early years educators shaken by sudden trailblazer shutdown

The government has shut down the trailblazer group for early years educator apprenticeships, in a move described by sector insiders as “very disappointing”. The employer-led Early Years Apprenticeship trailblazer group was disbanded by the Department for Education last week, due to what a spokesperson described as “slow progress” in developing its apprenticeship standard. FE Week […]

Ethnic minority target for apprenticeship diversity group

The government launched the Apprenticeship Diversity Champions Network this week. One of its key aims will be to increase the proportion of apprentices from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities by 20 per cent. FE Week’s Alix Robertson went along to the opening event to find out more. A new employers’ network designed to promote […]

Rule change could price assessors out of running apprenticeship exams

It might not be financially viable for awarding bodies to run end-point assessment exams, after it emerged that they will be forced to base their costs on deals negotiated with employers without their say-so. New rules coming into force in May will set the cost of final apprenticeship exams at a fifth of the overall […]

Colleges welcome new apprenticeship subcontracting rules

Colleges are using the new subcontracting rules to regain some of the ground lost to independent training providers accused of nicking their lunch, FE Week can reveal. Just a third of apprenticeship funding is currently allocated to colleges – and a significant proportion of that is actually delivered by independent training providers acting as subcontractors. […]

Employers blasted for ignoring apprenticeships they developed

Employers including the private healthcare giant Bupa have been criticised for not employing anyone on apprenticeships they developed, after FE Week found three dental standards which have had no learners in 18 months. Analysis of latest government data shows that three apprenticeship standards – dental laboratory assistant, dental practice manager, and dental technician – were […]

Employers in three sectors to grade their own apprentices

Employers in the retail, hospitality and travel sectors are actively preparing to exploit a loophole that will allow them to grade their own apprentices, FE Week can exclusively reveal. Our findings have caused concerns that the independence of end-point assessments is being seriously compromised. The rules, which will be upheld by the new Institute for […]

BREAKING: Apprenticeship achievement rate falls to 67 per cent under new method

The percentage of people passing their apprenticeship has fallen to 67 percent, figures released this morning show. The overall achievement rate for apprenticeship frameworks fell from 71.7 percent to 67 percent in 2015/16, however this follows a change to the methodology. Applying the new methodology to 2013/14 and 2014/15 shows overall achievement rates remain at 67 percent (see table […]

Digital Apprenticeship Service to be renamed prior to launch

The Digital Apprenticeship Service (or DAS) is due for launch later this month, but will be renamed the ‘apprenticeship service’, FE Week can reveal. In an email to employer groups, seen by FE Week, the Department for Education said: “The name of the new service through which employers will plan, manage and pay for their […]