A review of the junior apprenticeship programme in Wales: government response

This review was commissioned as part of the Estyn remit letter for 2023 to 2024, by the then Minister for Education and Welsh Language. Estyn’s report is focussed on the delivery of the Junior Apprenticeship Programme in Wales and the impact on learner outcomes. It also highlights good practice and identifies barriers to the effective delivery of the Programme by further education institutions.

Estyn reported that the most significant overall impact was the transformation in many learners’ attitudes to learning, from relative disengagement to making enthusiastic and ambitious choices to commit to continue to post compulsory learning.

Estyn found that arrangements are well established in five out of twelve colleges in Wales, but that learners in many areas of Wales do not have similar opportunities. This is mainly due to the lack of collaborative arrangements in place to support delivery, and lack of consistent information in schools about the Programme. There can also be issues with recruiting sufficient numbers for courses in the more sparsely populated college catchment areas. It has also been noted that some participating colleges (particularly those with the highest number of junior apprentices), are consistently oversubscribed.

Estyn found that, overall, transition arrangements between schools and colleges are effective, but in a few cases timely information sharing, and communication in general is lacking, which impacts on the support for individual learners.

Differences in learner timetables between colleges and for different vocational pathways can be problematic. Inconsistencies in arrangements for reviewing individual learner pastoral support plans were also noted. Estyn also found that timetable issues were further compounded by travel considerations.

Estyn found that most learners are taught in dedicated Junior Apprenticeship classes in vocational facilities. In the very few cases where learners were involved in post-16 programmes, arrangements for individual safeguarding were not always clear enough or robust.

The report shows that most learners enjoyed the focus on vocational subjects and practical activities, reflecting very high success rates for vocational qualification results. It was also noted, however, that most learners still struggled to achieve grade D or above in mathematics and English GCSEs. This was compounded by poor attendance where these classes were still being delivered at the learner’s ‘home’ school, as part of the Junior Apprenticeship Programme.

Recommendations for schools

Recommendation 1

Provide comprehensive and timely impartial advice and guidance to all pupils and their parents or carers about all 14 to 16 curriculum options, including Junior Apprenticeships s where these are available.

Recommendation 2

Work collaboratively with colleges and local authorities to evaluate opportunities for developing or extending Junior Apprenticeship Programmes in order to broaden their curriculum offer in the best interest of learners.

Welsh Government response

The Welsh Government supports recommendations 1 and 2.

Whilst most learners will continue to benefit from a purpose-based, broad and balanced curriculum under Curriculum for Wales, Junior Apprenticeships are an alternative offer for a small, but important, cohort of learners who are otherwise at risk of disengaging from education completely. We recognise the benefits of the Programme and the positive impact this can have on learners with a particular aptitude for vocational study, as Estyn’s report demonstrates. The Programme also contributes to our wider aims to ensure all young people fulfil their potential by helping them engage in education, employment or training as set out in the Youth Engagement and Progression Framework.

The Welsh Government and Medr will also scope the expansion of the Junior Apprenticeship Programme, working through the funding, delivery and policy implications with all partners. The £200k (50%) increase in the 2025 to 2026 Junior Apprenticeships budget, included in the Draft Budget, will ensure that current provision is fully funded and support further growth next academic year. We will continue to work closely with Medr to agree how this is best delivered.

Recommendations for further education institutions

Recommendation 3

Work closely with schools to make sure that responsibilities for safeguarding arrangements are clear and that individual risk assessments are undertaken for all Junior Apprenticeship learners.

Recommendation 4

Share and agree timetable arrangements with partner schools and local authorities for all Junior Apprenticeship learners and keep them updated of any changes affecting individual learners, such as pastoral plan arrangements.

Welsh Government response

The Welsh Government supports recommendations 3 and 4 and will engage with Medr and FEIs on their implementation.

Most Junior Apprenticeship learners are dually registered at schools and colleges and participating learners are likely to be more vulnerable than learners in mainstream education. It is important therefore that appropriate safeguarding arrangements and risk assessments are put in place for every learner on the Junior Apprenticeship Programme and that there is clear communication between centres around timetabling and individual pastoral plans.

Recommendations for local authorities

Recommendation 5

Clarify and communicate future funding arrangements for Junior Apprenticeships with schools and colleges.

Recommendation 6

Work collaboratively with their local schools and colleges to evaluate the potential for introducing or extending Junior Apprenticeship provision to engage with existing mainstream provision in schools.

Welsh Government response

The Welsh Government supports recommendations 5 and 6 and will work with Medr and local authorities in this context.

As in recommendation 2 above, we recognise the benefits of the Junior Apprenticeship Programme and its contribution to the wider aims set out in the Youth Engagement and Progression Framework, and will work closely with Medr, local authorities, schools and colleges, as we explore the scope to expand the availability of Junior Apprenticeships across Wales. As above, the £200k increase in the 2025 to 2026 Junior Apprenticeships budget, included in the Draft Budget, will ensure that current provision is fully funded and support further growth next academic year.

Recommendations for Welsh Government

Recommendation 7

In light of the establishment of the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research (CTER), clarify and publish details of ongoing responsibility and continuing arrangements for Junior Apprenticeships and their funding.

Welsh Government response

The Welsh Government accepts this recommendation.

Colleges delivering the Junior Apprenticeship Programme usually enter into a service level agreement with the relevant local authority and receive top-up funding from the Welsh Government, via Medr, in addition to funding from the local authority.

Whilst the Welsh Government has retained overall policy responsibility for the Junior Apprenticeship Programme, the responsibility for funding has been transferred to Medr. This will ensure that payments to FEIs can continue to be processed for this academic year and in 2025 to 2026 onwards. We will confirm longer term funding arrangements in due course, working closely with Medr to agree an efficient and sustainable approach.

Recommendation 8

Review specific curriculum requirements for Junior Apprenticeship Programmes as set out in the Welsh Government programmes directory, particularly in relation to English, mathematics and numeracy qualifications to ensure qualification aims match needs and abilities of individual learners and reflect the new national 14 to 16 qualifications in place from September 2027.

The Welsh Government response

The Welsh Government accepts this recommendation.

Medr are now responsible for publishing the programmes directory. We will work closely with Medr colleagues to ensure that the directory for 2025 to 2026 onwards is clear in relation to requirements for English, mathematics and numeracy qualifications for junior apprentices, building on the principles we have set out for literacy and numeracy qualifications within the 14 to 16 learner entitlement.

The report was published on Estyn’s website on 15 May 2024.