How people interact with the skills system


An individual’s involvement in the skills system can be divided into three main age-related stages with different funding bases:


Up to age 16


• General education up to the age of 16 with greater elements of choice between subjects, institutions, and courses from the age of 14.


Age 16-18


• From September 2015, all young people up to the age of 18 in England are required to continue in education or training.


• Courses are classified as theoretical, technical and applied general, with pupils able to either study a mixed programme full-time or take work-based learning pathways such as Traineeships or apprenticeships. Trade unions have significant involvement in apprenticeships and Traineeships (see Chapter 3).


• Study Programmes are in place for all full-time students between 16-18, including a core of qualifications and work experience. Further English and maths is required for those who are below grade C at GCSE.


• Delivery is through a range of providers including colleges, sixth forms, University Technical Colleges, studio schools (a new state school model for 14- to 19-year-olds of all abilities), schools, independent training providers, employers, specialist centres and secure colleges.


• All are entitled to independent careers advice and guidance.


• Approved provision is fully funded by the Department for Education through the Education Funding Agency.


Age 19-23


• Young people leave compulsory education and training, enter work, or progress into further or higher education.


• The majority of students in higher education are between 19-23, funding study with student loans.


• Young people enter work and the employer skills system via straightforward recruitment internships or graduate schemes.


• Government contributes towards the costs of apprenticeships and grants for employers taking on apprentices under the age of 24.


• First full Entry, Level 1 or 2 qualifications are fully funded.


• Full state funding for Traineeships or qualifications and units (Level 3 or above) to help young adults into work or to progress to an apprenticeship.


• Significant providers at this stage include colleges, employers, independent training providers, third sector organisations, the Jobcentre Plus and Work Programme providers, and offender learning and skills providers.


• Provision is funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) through the Skills Funding Agency, with certain elements of training funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).


Age 24+


• Individuals develop their skills through workplace experience, continual professional development or through employer-funded training.


• Workers re-enter training to upskill or retrain, particularly in areas such as digital skills.


• Access to 24+ Advanced Learning Loans for learners studying at Levels 3 and 4.


• Apprenticeship programmes receive partial funding from government.


• Fully funded English and maths qualifications and units to help adults to reach GCSE level A*-C (Level 2).


• Alongside vocational training courses, a wide range of providers offer other types of provision including employability, basic skills, the Work Programme, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), offender and community learning. These are areas which have substantial trade union involvement.


• BIS is primarily responsible for adult learning and skills while the DWP plays an important role in developing skills amongst the unemployed and economically inactive.