Standard Mapping of Apprenticeship Success Rates

Working with the Sector Skills Councils and other representative bodies, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and Ofsted have agreed a standard method for mapping Apprenticeship success rates onto the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) ‘Sector Subject Areas’ at Tier 1 and Tier 2.

This action only addresses current frameworks - new frameworks will be allocated to a Single Subject Area by Sector Skills Councils and Sector Skills bodies, as they are finalised and ready to be funded.

The purpose of introducing the change is to resolve any confusion amongst providers, and conflicting messages about performance based on the different approaches currently used by the LSC and Ofsted.

Please note: the method for calculating 'Overall and Timely'* success rates will not change, but the distribution of individual frameworks to Tier 1 and Tier 2 will be different in some instances.

Impact analysis

Impact of the change will only be seen when the success rate results are reported at Sector Subject Area. Results at provider level will not be affected.

Providers who deliver frameworks which may have previously occurred in more than one Sector Subject Area will see differences to the success rates previously reported.

The LSC is currently examining the implications of these changes for the application of Minimum Levels of Performance to Apprenticeship provision for the forthcoming commissioning year. 

Due to the change in the ILR, the previous LSC method of mapping is no longer appropriate for 2008/09 data. Therefore, a new approach was implemented with the release of 2008/09 Period 9 QSR reports, and will apply to all future reports.

Providers will need to consider the effect of this on Sector Subject Area focused sections of their self-assessment reports and quality improvement plans.

The new mapping framework will soon be made available on the Learning Aims Database. The mapping list is available to view as a PDF document in the meantime.

* Overall and timely – definitions

Overall – all learner achievements over time with reporting taking place in the year that they finish (therefore, not time dependent).

Timely – method of capturing all learners who complete their learning within an agreed timescale (therefore, time dependent).