Apprenticeship in England, United Kingdom
One of a series of studies on vocational education and training, this review focuses
on the apprenticeship system in England and concludes with policy recommendations.
England has launched a series of reforms that champion the institution of apprenticeship,
and address some previous weaknesses. The reforms encourage more substantive apprenticeship
programmes and a stronger funding framework. Despite these strengths, there is still
some way to go to establish an apprenticeship system in England to match those of
the strongest countries.
This report suggests several ways in which reforms might be adapted to achieve higher
quality and better outcomes. An effective apprenticeship system involves various elements
such as the development of the apprentice in the workplace by the employer and the
broader education of young apprentices. The report argues that England should consider
introducing regulations and standards to ensure that these elements are part of all
apprenticeship programmes, and that the recently introduced apprenticeship levy supports
high-quality training. In comparison to other countries, England has relatively few
young apprentices. The report suggests England could facilitate transition from school
to work by making better use of apprenticeships targeting school leavers.
Published on April 11, 2018
In series:OECD Reviews of Vocational Education and Trainingview more titles