Expanding role of Institute for Apprenticeships outlined in new Bill
28 October 2016
The increased role and responsibilities of the new Institute for Apprenticeships have been set out in a Technical and Further Education Bill.
Launched this week by the Skills Minister, Robert Halfon, the Bill proposes legislation which builds on the Sainsbury Review and subsequent Skills Plan, outlining the government’s plans for FE and technical education.
Extending its remit beyond apprenticeships to cover technical education, the Bill proposes that the Institute will:
- Determine the occupations for apprenticeships and technical education qualifications
- Approve ‘standards’ and ‘technical education qualifications’ and groups to develop them
- Own the ‘standards’ from which qualifications development will be based
- Hold copyright of approved technical education qualifications.
Building on post-16 area reviews and following a consultation earlier this summer, the Bill also introduces a new insolvency regime aiming to protect learners should a college become insolvent in the future.
In addition, a new measure to require colleges and local authorities to improve the sharing of information such as data on results, is also set out.
The Technical and Further Education Bill was published as the Government confirmed that legislation to introduce the Education Bill, unveiled earlier this year, would not go ahead in this parliamentary session. However, Ministers will press ahead with proposals for reforms to the school system following the current
consultation.