In October we learned that over the past year apprenticeship starts topped the half a million mark for the first time. That's half a million opportunities for people to progress their careers and benefit from training and qualifications, while in paid employment. But impressive as they are, apprenticeships aren't just about numbers. The next stage of the apprenticeships renaissance must be quality.
All the evidence shows that the training most likely to boost young people's pay over their lifetime combines work with training. That's what apprenticeships do.
Last year we brought an end to programme-led apprenticeships, meaning all apprentices must have a real job, and insisted all apprenticeships must last between one and four years, with some flexibility to allow adult apprentices with prior skills experience to complete more quickly. This year we are giving all apprentices who have not achieved the equivalent of a good GCSE in maths and English the opportunity to do so, and with an eye on the future we have commissioned entrepreneur Doug Richard to lead an independent review into how the apprenticeship programme can deliver the skills employers and learners need.
But we must go further. The government has dedicated itself to raising school standards and overhauling the qualifications young people take. I want to see this same drive for quality applied to vocational education. High quality in any area of life depends on accountability. We need to put the systems in place to ensure the best institutions thrive, and the weakest are brought up to the same standard. And, where necessary, we must take tough measures to ensure improvement.
Excellent teaching plays a vital role and I have been struck by the many strong examples of educators and employers working closely together to offer a broad learning experience for their apprentices. We must do more to recognise, celebrate and spread best teaching practice in apprenticeships and vocational education.
And just as we are scrutinising qualifications and assessment in schools to ensure they are providing the very best foundation for our young people, we also need to ensure that vocational qualifications always represent the skills and knowledge employers need and value, and which will best help individuals to progress.
Ultimately, we must raise expectations, celebrate the best and not tolerate poor standards, coasting performance or mediocrity. The future of Britain's prosperity rests on everyone reaching their potential. Our job is to help them get there.
Matthew Hancock is the minister for skills
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