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Date: August 2019

Author: Tom Karmel

This paper provides a description of what Certificates I and II purport to be and undertakes a brief survey of the literature. It provides a statistical overview, looking at numbers of commencements across qualification levels classified by available characteristics such as field of education, mode of study, whether part of an apprenticeship or traineeship, and a range of demographic and socio-economic characteristics. The statistics are restricted to those who are not attending school – our interest is in the post-school VET sector. Time series data is also included, covering the period 2003 to 2017. The statistical picture is completed with data on completion rates.

Download Certificates I and II in post-school VET (PDF - 1MB)

Date: August 2019

Author: Robin Shreeve

This paper discusses England’s initiatives to reduce the divide between academic and technical education. Apprenticeships in England which were at Levels 2 and 3 in the national qualifications framework are becoming increasingly higher level.

Level 4-5 Higher Apprenticeships came into being in 2006-7, and by 2016-17, 63% of starts at this Apprenticeship Level were at L5. Degree Apprenticeships (L6 and 7) began in September 2015. In 2016-7 there were 2,000 Level 6 starts and 50 at Level 7. Prompted by major reports by entrepreneurs Doug Richard (Richard, 2012) and Lord David Sainsbury (Department for Business, Innovation & Skills and Department for Education, 2016, referred to as the Sainsbury Review), the UK government is undertaking some major reforms to the English technical education system. The reforms cover both secondary and tertiary levels.

Linking the two sectors in the reform process through meaningful pathways and better consumer advice are critical success factors. Specific measures include making apprenticeships more rigorous as well as expanding higher level and degree apprenticeships.

Download Removing the tradesman’s entrance (PDF - 1MB)