How apprenticeships work
Eligibility
To become an apprentice, you must:
- Be 16 years old or over
- Not already be in full time education
- Lived in England for the last 3 years
- Have an NCC contract within your school that lasts at least the duration of the apprenticeship
- Meet the entry requirements from the training provider. Such as English and Maths GCSE. This can differ depending on the apprenticeship.
- Only undertake an apprenticeship that is relevant to your current role within your school
- Not hold a higher, or equal level qualification in the same or a similar subject
Funding
Apprenticeships do not cost your school as NCC pays the training provider from the apprenticeship levy.
NCC levy only pays for the training costs, the school will still need to pay the apprentices salary. An apprenticeship can be more cost-effective than your school paying for staff to study for professional qualifications
If the apprentice leaves your school during their apprenticeship, NCC will no longer pay for the apprenticeship and stop payments to the training provider.
Apprentices should discuss this with their new employer who may choose to take on the costs. This means the apprentice can complete the apprenticeship in their new job. This will be at the discretion of the new employer.
Apprenticeship Standard
The new or existing job role of the apprentice must reflect the apprenticeship standard, so the apprentice has opportunities to demonstrate their learning.
View the full list of apprenticeship here on the Skills England website
The apprenticeship team can also help and support you with this.
Off the job
An apprentice must spend at least 6 hours or 20% of their working week if they are part-time as off the job training hours. This means the apprentice is engaging in activities beyond their usual day-to-day responsibilities. This will look different for each apprentice, but could include:
- College study days or online workshops
- Assignment writing and research
- Practicing and reflecting on new skills
- Shadowing a colleaguein a different class or year group
- Working on a departmental project
- Attending a new meeting
- School inset days or CPD training
Off-the-job training refers to the apprentice making developments in their apprenticeship standard.
Training providers
An external provider will organise and support the apprentice's training. They will develop a training plan for the apprentice. This will set out how they will work towards achieving the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed.
The external provider will arrange any formal classroom-based or online learning. They also support the apprentice with project work and arrange any exams.
Training providers provide functional skills training in English and Maths if required.
The training provider assigns a specific person to the apprentice, often referred to as a:
- tutor
- coach
- adviser
- assessor
They will work with the apprentice throughout the apprenticeship and actively involve the apprentice's line manager in regular progress reviews.
Training provider framework
At NCC we have an apprenticeship training provider framework with pre-approved training providers.
The apprenticeships team will work with you to find the most suitable provider from the framework. There may already be a provider in place for the apprenticeship you choose. The apprenticeship team will discuss their delivery method with you to make sure it is a good fit.
End Point Assessment (EPA)
When the apprentice has completed and documented all their training, they will have a gateway meeting. This is a meeting between the apprentice, their line manager and training provider. Together they will confirm if the apprentice is ready for the end point assessment (EPA) which will be carried by an impartial organisation known as an End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO).
