Are Functional Skills still mandatory on an apprenticeship? – Apprenticeship Update

Functional Skills are essential English and Maths qualifications that help individuals develop practical skills needed for work and everyday life. They are often an alternative to GCSEs and are commonly required in apprenticeships and further education.

Why is it important?

As part of the apprenticeship, learners needed to either start an apprenticeship having achieved Maths and English Qualifications at an equivalent level to GCSEs at a grade 4/C. Or study and achieve this by the end of their apprenticeship. This means that learners either had to devote a considerable amount of time to this or in a majority of cases it has been a barrier in them getting an apprenticeship.

So what’s changed?

It was announced in Apprenticeship week that for learners who commence their apprenticeship 19+ years old, no longer need Maths and English Qualifications to complete. Following this press release on functional skills requirements, we have been in contact with the Department for Education (DfE) to seek further clarification. While the complete set of rules has yet to be officially released, we now have enough information to move forward with confidence.

The key update is that under the new guidance, English and maths are no longer mandatory for apprentices who are aged 19 or older at the start of their apprenticeship. This change applies to both new apprentices and those already on programme. Importantly, if learners are currently in the process of completing their functional skills exams, they should continue their efforts. However, there will no longer be a requirement for them to provide evidence of achievement at the Gateway stage.

This update marks a significant shift in the functional skills landscape and is expected to provide greater flexibility for apprentices and training providers. It acknowledges the varying needs of adult learners and removes a potential barrier to progression while maintaining the integrity of apprenticeship standards.

We will continue to monitor any further developments and provide updates as more details emerge. In the meantime, this clarification allows us to support our learners with renewed certainty, ensuring they can focus on developing the skills and knowledge required for success in their respective industries.

For any questions or further guidance, please feel free to reach out.