Institute for Apprenticeships

IfA to charge assessment organisations for quality assurance

The Institute for Apprenticeships will charge apprenticeship assessment organisations for external quality assurance of new standards – despite Ofqual keeping the service free. Speaking during a webinar on Monday (January 6), Peter Lauener, shadow chief executive of the IfA, said that it was acceptable for the Institute to charge for the service because “the principle of […]

Institute for Apprenticeships silent on learning difficulties and disabilities

The Institute for Apprenticeships has been silent on learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, and that’s simply not good enough, says David Harbourne When I was still at school, I helped a partially-sighted boy practise reading. Both of us had ambitions, but he faced more challenges than I did. It was a lesson I never forgot. […]

EXCLUSIVE: Institute for Apprenticeships appoints first director

The first permanent employee of the Institute for Apprenticeships has finally been appointed, after ongoing delays and an absence of information about who would run the important new body. Anastasia (Ana) Osbourne, formerly employed in the Enterprise Directorate at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, was introduced as the IfA’s new ‘deputy director of […]

Concerns over Institute for Apprenticeships readiness justified

Widespread concerns over whether the Institute for Apprenticeships will be ready to police the brave new world of apprenticeships post-April seem increasingly justified. Peter Lauener is a highly experienced and respected leader, who probably understands the intricacies of the new system better than anyone. It would be hard to argue against his role as shadow […]

Marsden ‘very disappointed’ as assurances on IfA announcements fail to deliver

Delays to the release of key details about the Institute for Apprenticeships are “very disappointing” evidence of a “haphazard” approach from the government, shadow skills minister Gordon Marsden has said. In a Public Bill Committee hearing on November 22, Peter Lauener, shadow chief executive of the IfA (pictured right), suggested to Mr Marsden that information […]

Institute for Apprenticeships questions dodged, says Gordon Marsden

The government’s handling of the new Institute for Apprenticeships has been “shambolic” according to shadow skills minister Gordon Marsden, after it evaded a series of parliamentary enquiries about its capacity. He says that questions he asked about staffing, resources and appointments in a letter posted on November 1 were dodged. His queries were prompted by […]

SFA approve just 13% of apprentice assessment organisation applications

Organisations applying to the government’s new register of apprenticeship assessment organisations are being turned away because their plans for end-point assessment are not up to scratch, according to the new interim chief executive of the Institute for Apprenticeships, Peter Lauener. Mr Lauener (pictured above right), who is also chief executive of the Skills Funding Agency and Education […]