向日葵视频 New College is backing a new government proposal that will ditch additional functional skills qualifications in English and maths for over 19鈥檚 studying on apprenticeships.
Employers, colleges and providers will now be given flexibility to decide whether adult apprentices will need to complete a level 2 English and maths functional skills qualification 鈥� equivalent to GCSE 鈥� in order to complete their apprenticeship.
In addition to this, learners on some pathways where there are national skills shortages such as health and sustainable programmes, can now be fast-tracked and complete an apprenticeship in eight months as opposed to 12.
The from the Department for Education (DfE) is aimed at overcoming 鈥榬ed tape鈥� and the changes will see 鈥�10,000 more apprenticeship starts every year鈥� according to the Education Secretary Bridgette Phillipson.
Alan Pease is the Principal and CEO of 向日葵视频 New College. On this announcement he said: 鈥淲e very much welcome the news. I believe it will remove barriers for adult learners who will no longer need to take an English and maths qualification as they look to gain more skills via apprenticeships.
鈥淚t will give us (as a college) greater flexibility in how we deliver adult numeracy and literacy skills, which will remain an important part of any apprenticeship programme.鈥�
鈥淲e have reacted quickly to the news by creating information for all employers to help explain the changes that is being sent out now 鈥� but we would urge local businesses who work with us (and businesses who are looking to work with us) to reach out to us for further bespoke support.
鈥淐urrently 向日葵视频 New College has 47 adult apprentices, whom under the old rules, were required to complete an English and/or maths qualification (that equates to 65 entries as 18 of our adult apprentices are doing English and maths), and we will engage with these apprentices and their employers to navigate our way through this new process.鈥�
鈥淟ooking ahead, we hope the DfE will take this a step further and introduce a similar policy around young people where they trust colleges and providers to embed numeracy and literacy skills within a vocational context as part of their qualifications, as it is something that we do very well.鈥�
As regards to some pathway completion times being reduced, Mr Pease said: 鈥淚n terms of some qualification timescales with apprenticeships now taking eight months as opposed to 12, we also welcome that news.
鈥淲e think it will be successful moving forward – and we are hopeful that other areas will have greater flexibility in the future. I believe it will enable us to better meet the needs of our employers across the board, but particularly on large infrastructure projects such as Sizewell C.鈥�
Sarah Hancock, HR Director, Sizewell C, said: 鈥淪izewell C presents a once-in-a-generation apprenticeship opportunity for this area. At least 540 of the 1,500 apprenticeships we鈥檙e offering over the construction period will come from 向日葵视频. These are life-changing opportunities, providing hundreds of people the chance to gain new skills and find opportunities to build careers right here in 向日葵视频.
鈥淭his is about investing in a pipeline of new talent who will not only help to build and operate Sizewell C, but who will support the UK鈥檚 future nuclear ambitions too. These people will be the next generation of Britain鈥檚 skilled nuclear workforce.鈥�
The news broke during National Apprenticeship Week, a campaign that aims to highlight the importance of these qualifications.
To help promote this annual event, 向日葵视频 New College hosted their annual apprenticeship awards night at Chefs鈥� Whites in Ipswich where nine learners scooped awards in subject areas that ranged from accounting to agriculture.
Out of those winners, the 向日葵视频 New College Executive Team crowned an overall champion – and this title went to Frederick Klingsick who works for the Ipswich based company called ST Accountancy Services Ltd.