Specification of apprenticeship standards: England
60.Sections 23 to 27 make provision about the preparation, modification and contents of the specification of apprenticeship standards for England. Apprenticeship frameworks must conform to the requirements of the specification of apprenticeship standards for England if they are to be issued by the English issuing authority as “recognised English frameworks”. The specification could contain, for example, requirements as to competence and knowledge based elements, transferable skills such as key skills in literacy and numeracy or functional skills in English and Maths, employment rights and responsibilities and clear progression routes. It must require each recognised English framework to identify a qualification that is the “competencies qualification” for the purposes of the framework.
Section 23: Duty to prepare and submit draft specification: England
61.This section empowers the Secretary of State to direct the Chief Executive of Skills Funding to produce a draft specification of apprenticeship standards for England and to consult on the draft with those designated under section 13; with representatives of employers, FE institutions and training providers; with other persons specified in regulations; and with other persons the Chief Executive of Skills Funding thinks appropriate.
Section 24: Order bringing specification into effect
62.This section empowers the Secretary of State to give effect by order, which is subject to the negative resolution procedure, to the specification of apprenticeship standards for England, provided the contents comply with section 27. Subsection (3) requires that there may be only one specification of apprenticeship standards for England at any time.
Section 25: Modification: England
63.This section allows the Secretary of State to direct the Chief Executive of Skills Funding to modify the specification of apprenticeship standards for England provided the contents of the specification, as modified still complies with section 27.
Section 26: Replacement or modification: recognised English frameworks
64.If a new specification of apprenticeship standards for England is given effect to under section 24, or if an existing specification is modified under section 25, frameworks that have already been issued under section 14 may not comply with the requirements of the new or modified specification. Subsection (1) provides that a recognised English framework that fails to comply with a new or modified specification will not automatically cease to be recognised. But subsection (2) provides that an order under section 24, which would be subject to the negative resolution procedure, may provide for such a framework to cease to have effect as a recognised English framework.
Section 27: Contents of specification of apprenticeship standards for England
65.This section sets out what must be included in the specification of apprenticeship standards for England. Subsection (1) provides that the specification must specify requirements in relation to the content of recognised English frameworks at level 2 (known as Apprenticeships); and level 3 (known as Advanced Apprenticeships); and that it may specify requirements in relation to the content of recognised English frameworks at other levels. For instance, the specification might make provision about the content of recognised English frameworks for level 4 apprenticeships (known as Higher Apprenticeships). The effect of subsection (2) is that the specification must require English frameworks to specify requirements for the issue of apprenticeship certificates, including that a certificate may be issued only if the person has received both on-the-job and off-the-job training; that the qualification or qualifications taken together demonstrate the relevant occupational competencies and relevant technical knowledge; and levels of attainment required for the award of a certificate. It must also require each framework to identify the competencies qualification in respect of that framework.
