Technical and Further Education Act 2017

7 In Chapter A1, before section A1 (and the italic heading before it) substitute—

“Occupational categories and groups

ZA9 Occupational categories (sometimes referred to as “routes”)

(1) The Secretary of State may determine categories into which occupations may be placed for the purposes of this Chapter.

(2) The Secretary of State must notify the Institute of any categories that are determined.

ZA10 Mapping of occupational groups

(1) The Institute must—

(a) determine occupations in relation to which it may be appropriate for people to undertake apprenticeships or obtain qualifications, and

(b) determine which of those occupations require similar knowledge, skills and behaviour.

(2) Two or more occupations that require similar knowledge, skills and behaviour are referred to in this section as a “group”.

(3) Where categories have been determined under section ZA9, the Institute must allocate each occupation or group to a category.

(4) If the Institute considers that no category is appropriate it must nevertheless allocate the occupation or group to a category (and is not required to adjust its determinations under subsection (1)).

(5) The Institute must publish information showing—

(a) the occupations,

(b) the groups, and

(c) any categories to which the occupations and groups have been allocated.

Standards

ZA11 Standards

(1) The Institute must publish standards in relation to England for such occupations as the Institute considers appropriate.

(2) Each standard must—

(a) describe the occupation to which it relates;

(b) set out the outcomes that persons seeking to achieve the standard are expected to attain in order to do so.

(3) Each standard must have been prepared by a group of persons and approved by the Institute.

(4) The group of persons that prepared a standard must have been approved by the Institute.

(5) The Institute may provide advice or assistance to a group of persons in connection with the preparation of a standard.

(6) The Institute may convene a group of persons to prepare a standard for an occupation only if the Institute considers—

(a) that there is a need for a standard for that occupation, and

(b) that the need will not be met unless a group is convened to prepare the standard.

(7) The Institute must publish—

(a) information about matters that it takes into account when deciding whether or not to approve standards for the purposes of subsection (3);

(b) information about matters that it takes into account when deciding whether or not to approve groups of persons for the purposes of subsection (4).

(8) When making a decision of the kind mentioned in subsection (7)(a) or (b) in a particular case, the Institute may also take into account such other matters as it considers appropriate in the case in question.

(9) Information published under subsection (7) may be revised or replaced, and the Institute must publish under that subsection any revised or replacement information.

(10) Where a standard is published, the Institute must publish, with the information published under section ZA10(5) in relation to the occupation, information indicating that there is a standard for the occupation.”