APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background Presentation and discussion led by Liz Aitken and Judith McGrath

APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background

Presentation and discussion

led by

Liz Aitken and

Judith McGrath

APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background – UK statistics

The United Kingdom

• England

• Northern Ireland

• Scotland

• Wales

Devolved government not independence –

education is a devolved responsibility

APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR Education context and background – UK statistics - population

Office for National statistics (ONS) 2008

UK (male and female) 60.9 million• England 51.1 million• Northern Ireland 1.8 million• Scotland 5.1 million• Wales 3 million

By mid 2010 total population 62.2 million

World Bank data

• In 2010 the percentage of the population in the UK aged 0 – 14 was 17%

HOW DOES THIS COMPARE WITH YOUR OWN COUNTRY?

APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background – education system

• Public (state funded) and private education institutions at every stage. • Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

o devolved responsibility for their education systems o very similar patterns from 5 to 16

• National curriculum - followed by all state schools, which states: o what must be taught o what level/standards should be expected for each age group. This is under currently review.

.


Nursery and primary • Nursery or day care centre - from the day they are born• Formal, compulsory education – from age 5 • Primary education (infants – 5 to 7) and (juniors 8 to 11)• At age 10/11 students transfer to secondary school Secondary schools• Age 11- 16, or 11-18. • Current age for the end of compulsory education is 16. The government

intends to raise this to 18 by 2015• Majority are comprehensive, and take students of all abilities• Students usually attend the school nearest to where they live• Some schools deemed ‘good’ and oversubscribed


General Certificate of Education (GCSE)• GCSEs are part of the National Qualifications Framework• At 14 or 15, students select subjects for the GCSE (Level 2 in the UK levels

structure)• They will study these subjects for 2 years before taking an external exam • English, Maths and Science are compulsory. They will also have acquired

some IT skills but will not all have taken IT exams• Other choices can include vocational subjects. Some can take BTEC or City

and Guilds exams as part of their course and they may study this in schools or attend a further education college or private provider for this part of their course.

• Students can take a mix of academic and vocational subjects


At age 16 after GCSE exams the student has a wide choice available. This applies to • where they study (the type of organisation they attend) and • what they study (the type of course they do)They can• Stay at school (provided their school has a sixth form)• Go to a sixth form college• Go to a college of further education• Go to a private/work based learning provider• Go to work• Take an apprenticeship

APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background – education systemThey can study• Vocational course at level 1, 2 or 3 depending on their qualifications when

they leave school• ‘A’ level ( the “academic” route) level 3• More or repeat GCSEs level 2• There are hundreds of subjects/vocational options to choose from.They can work• taking an Apprenticeship• taking a job with training• taking a job without trainingIn the UK there is an increasing of young people not in education or training

(NEETS)

HOW DOES THIS COMPARE WITH YOUR OWN COUNTRY?

APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background – skills and schools

Increasingly schools are being asked to provide opportunities for students to develop entrepreneurship skills and the government is funding this http://www.enterprisevillage.org.uk/delivering_enterprise/

Careers education is variable but most schools will offer advice on career pathways and provide opportunities to gain employability skills.

Many schools will offer a work placement as part of their standard curriculum in Year 10 or 11. It can be compulsory in some vocational courses. The Department for Education produces guidance on work experience

http://www.enterprisevillage.org.uk/delivering_enterprise/

APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background - skills

So what about skills?

• Skills for young people (14-19) and

• Skills for adults (19-25 and 25 and over)

The Department for Education (DFE) is responsible for education from 0 – 19

The Department for Business, Industry and Skills (BIS) is responsible for

education and training post 19

APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background – skills and post 16

For young people –

WHAT ARE THEIR OPTIONS AT 16?

WHAT PROGRESSION OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM?

Reference slides 7 and 8

APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background – post 16 vocational route

Whether in work or in full time training with a college or work based training provider young people will:•follow a vocational course leading to a vocational qualification. •often gain qualifications in English and Maths, or key skills, or functional skills

What about adults?•If they are in work they may get training paid for by their employer•If they are unemployed they may be eligible for training programmes paid for by the government•They can attend training at a college or work based learning provider at their own expense

APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background - apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are one of the options open to people from age 16

AT YOUR TABLE PLEASE AGREE A “DEFINITION” OF

APPRENTICESHIP – WHAT YOU UNDERSTAND BY AN

APPRENTICESHIP

We will get feedback from each table


• Apprentices in the UK have to be employed

• Apprenticeships are available to people from the age of 16; there are more

apprenticeship places and more funding for young people than for adults.

• Entry requirements will depend on the level of Apprenticeship and the

vocational area

• Young people aged 16-24 who need to improve their skills, such as literacy

or numeracy, to get an apprenticeship might be able to join the Access to

Apprenticeship scheme. It’s run by the National Apprenticeship Service and

helps young people deal with the disciplines and routines of the workplace.


There are three levels of Apprenticeship available:1 - Intermediate Level Apprenticeships • Apprentices work towards work-based learning qualifications such as a Level 2

Competence Qualification, Functional Skills and, in most cases, a relevant knowledge-based qualification.

2 - Advanced Level Apprenticeships • Apprentices work towards work-based learning such as a Level 3 Competence

Qualification, Functional Skills and, in most cases, a relevant knowledge-based qualification.

3 - Higher Apprenticeships • Apprentices work towards work-based learning qualifications such as a Level 4

Competence Qualification, Functional Skills and, in some cases, a knowledge-based qualification such as a Foundation Degree.


All Apprenticeships must include the following elements: • A competencies qualification which is the qualification required to demonstrate

competence in performing the skill, trade or occupation to which the framework relates

• A technical knowledge qualification which is the qualification required to demonstrate achievement of the technical skills, knowledge and understanding of theoretical concepts and knowledge and understanding of the industry and its market relevant to the skill, trade or occupation to which the framework relates.

• Key Skills or Functional Skills - practical skills in English, Maths and Information Technology (ICT)


In England • Education for 5 – 16 is funded by the local authority• Education 16 – 19 is funded by the Skills Funding Agency• Apprenticeships are funded as a contribution through the National

Apprenticeship Service which is paid directly to the organisation that provides and supports the Apprenticeship for example a learning provider.

• The size of the contribution varies depending on the sector and the age of the candidate. o If the apprentice is aged 16–18 years old, 100 per cent of the cost of the

training is paido For 19-24 years old, 50 per cent is paido If they are 25 years old or over a contribution depends on the sector and area

in which they live


• Apprenticeships are designed by the Sector Skills Councils, who operate

across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

• Business representatives from the relevant industry sector work with the

Sector Skills Councils to develop the course content. Because they

genuinely understand their business, the training will be relevant for that

industry

• Over 100,000 employers in over 160,000 workplaces offer Apprenticeship

frameworks across a wide range of industry sectors


How did we get to this point? What lessons have we leant?

• Need for skills development

• Government interventions:

o Centres of Vocational Excellence (Level 3)

o Government funded initiatives (Train to Gain, Apprenticeships)

o Government funded Improvement Programmes (Train to Gain, World Class

Skills, Skills and Employer Responsiveness)

2011 "Putting Apprenticeships back at the heart of our education and skills system

is one of the Government's proudest achievements, with record investment

paying dividends for businesses and trainees"

APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background – skills stakeholders

Who are the stakeholders in the skills system?

Awarding Organisations Employers

Government departments Improvement agencies

National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) Skills Development Scotland

Ofqual Ofsted

Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) Skills Funding Agency

Training providers UKCES

National Skills Academies

You will hear from or about many of these agencies during the study tour


QUESTIONS

AND

ANSWERS

APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background - review

Based on what you’ve heard• What are your priorities for finding out more? What is of particular

interest to you?• Do you think the agenda for the study tour will give you these

opportunities? • Do you think that what you have heard so far could be adapted for use in

your own countries? What is working well in your own countries at present

PLEASE DISCUSS THIS AT YOUR TABLES

REVIEW WHAT YOU SAID WANTED OUT OF THE TOUR IN THE FIRST SESSION AND MAKE ANY CHANGES


Liz [email protected]

+447747 018 595

Judith [email protected]

+447866 256 231

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background Presentation and discussion led by Liz Aitken and Judith McGrath