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

2. 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

3. HOW DOES THIS COMPARE WITH YOUR OWN COUNTRY?
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 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?

4. 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
devolved responsibility for their education systems
very similar patterns from 5 to 16
National curriculum - followed by all state schools, which states:
what must be taught
what level/standards should be expected for each age group.
This is under currently review. .

5. APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background – education system
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 , or
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

6. APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background – education system
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

7. APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background – education system
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

8. HOW DOES THIS COMPARE WITH YOUR OWN COUNTRY?
APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background – education system
They 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 training
In the UK there is an increasing of young people not in education or training (NEETS)
HOW DOES THIS COMPARE WITH YOUR OWN COUNTRY?

9. 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
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

10. 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

11. WHAT ARE THEIR OPTIONS AT 16?
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

12. 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

13. 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

14. APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background - apprenticeships
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 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.

15. APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background - apprenticeships
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.

16. APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background - apprenticeships
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)

17. APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background – education system
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.
If the apprentice is aged 16–18 years old, 100 per cent of the cost of the training is paid
For years old, 50 per cent is paid
If they are 25 years old or over a contribution depends on the sector and area in which they live

18. APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background – education system
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

19. APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background – education system
How did we get to this point? What lessons have we leant?
Need for skills development
Government interventions:
Centres of Vocational Excellence (Level 3)
Government funded initiatives (Train to Gain, Apprenticeships)
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"

20. Who are the stakeholders in the skills system?
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

21. APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background
QUESTIONS
AND
ANSWERS

22. PLEASE DISCUSS THIS AT YOUR TABLES
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

23. APPRENTICESHIPS STUDY TOUR UK education context and background
Liz Aitken
Judith McGrath