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    Important Notice to Training Providers using UCE as their EPAO regarding the change of policy relating to the achievement of English and maths as part of an apprenticeship (in England).

    On, 11 February 2025, Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities made the following announcement, relating to changing the rules in relation to the achievement of English and maths qualifications as part of an apprenticeship for people aged over 19.

    Minister Phillipson said:

    • All apprentices will be required to secure and will be assessed on the job-specific skills English and maths they need, but moving forward employers will have more flexibility over whether adult (19+) apprentices are required to achieve a standalone English and maths qualification.

    • In future, adult apprentices will be able to complete their apprenticeship if they have demonstrated they have the skills – including relevant English and maths skills – to be effective in the role without undertaking standalone English and maths qualifications.

    • All 16-18 apprentices will continue to be required and funded to secure up to a Level 2 qualification in English and maths if they do not hold one, consistent with our expectation that all young people should have a meaningful further opportunity to secure a Level 2 qualification in English and math post-16.

    The Acting CEO of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), Carmel Grant, confirmed:

    • Businesses will now be able to decide whether adult learners, over the age of 19 when they start their apprenticeship course, will need to complete a level 2 English and maths qualification (equivalent to GCSE) to pass it. This policy change will be effective immediately (from February 11, 2025) and will apply to new starts and existing learners currently on programme.

    Following the recent announcement made by IFATE on 11 February 2025, UCE have reviewed our processes, with the following changes taking immediate effect:

    1. The employer is to confirm whether their apprentice needs to compete the Level 2 Functional Skills maths and English as part of the gateway process.

    2. For any apprentices who are exempt, the employer needs to complete and sign the English and Maths Exemption document.

    3. The exemption document should be uploaded against the English and/or maths components on ACE360 to advise the EPA Team of this exemption.

    4. There is no need to allow six months’ notice of this new process UCE will be happy to accept apprentices with this exemption into EPA from today.

    5. Please note that these changes have been implemented for apprentices who were 19 or over at the start of their apprenticeship and this applies to new starts as well as those who are on programme.

    6. For apprentices aged 16-18 years, the requirement to complete the maths and English qualifications remains unchanged.

    Please download the exemption document here: Download
    Please download official IfATE announcement here: Download

    If you have any questions, please contact us on 01332 480325 or email epa@uce.org.uk

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