Post 16 Skills Plan and the future of awarding

Having carried a copy of the Plan with me for a while I eventually got chance to give it a read. I was stunned. Not about the need for clarity in our system, or for highlighting apprenticeships, or the college or employer route options but for the scathing attack on the qualification marketplace and ideas around licensing of awarding from the ‘to be established’ Institute of Apprenticeships.

The plans to be published later this year will hopefully supply some clarity. However, some statements in the plan encourage me to get AOs to put the Plan on their risk register and to do some early thinking on strategies for continuing to award under the proposed new regime.  

Right now I’m also mindful of how few awarding organisations are end point assessment organisations and I wonder if that’s because they are not getting through the applications process, despite being Ofqual recognised. 

 If the application process is to be eventually be owned by the Institute of Apprenticeships (and my money says it will) the gates may continue to narrow as the ambition to move away from the ‘market approach to awarding bodies’ statement in the Plan suggest. 

How this might affect Ofqual is interesting too. With a remit to regulate ‘end point assessments’ (EPAs) where the Trailblazer asks it to; EPAs must in the first instance be Ofqual recognised. But the Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA) may also be asked to quality assure EPAs. How the IfA will work with Ofqual will be interesting. If you look at Ofqual’s Approach to the Regulation of New Apprenticeship End-Point Assessments (July 2016) is almost feels like a promotional document! So if Ofqual’s role in regulating a reduced down technical qualifications system, and competing with IfA as an EPA regulator, will it be viable still, or need to join forces?

My other big concern is the potential for losing the richness of our vocational system. Fifteen technical routes sound too few. Already some AOs are wondering where their specialisations will sit. The ideas behind specialist panels paid to advise sounds reminiscent of the old sector skills councils too - which weren’t remunerated – whereas the new panels will be.

Where we are now there is no scope for protest, the Plan has been adopted. However, let’s hope the Government provides some areas for further consultation to help them get the details in place. I feel an Autumn/Winter of consultations coming on. I will be commenting and keeping in touch with developments via my regular bi-monthly blog which I’m kick starting again.

Heather Venis

Principal of Awarding First

Heather Venis of Awarding First supports awarding organisations and professional bodies with professional guidance and support on regulatory requirements, AO development, operations, qualifications and quality assurance arrangements. Heather has a breadth and depth of experience in the sector and works with a range of AOs.

T: 01588 650 152

M: 0789 479 6262

E: heather@awardingfirst.co.uk