Extension of Key Skills in Apprenticeships extended until March 2011
15 July 2010
John Hayes, Minister for Further Education, Skills & Lifelong Learning announced at the Association of Learning Providers (ALP) conference held earlier this week that the use of Key Skills in Apprenticeships will be extended until March 2011 in England.
The Government had originally planned to replace Key Skills with a new Functional Skills element (covering practical skills in English, Mathematics and ICT), from September 2010. This announcement will give providers a short term choice of these two alternatives. Hayes stressed, however that this was a "temporary measure to allow more flexibility for providers and more time for us to work together to get the implementation right."
Following the announcement, John Landeryou, Director of Further Education for the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) has written to all stakeholders about the extension of Key Skills. Please click here to view the letter.
The Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS, Welsh Assembly Government) Qualifications and Learning Division has confirmed that this extension does not apply to Wales. In Wales, the position regarding the final dates for Key Skills in Apprenticeship frameworks remains as follows:
- The last date for the registration of candidates on to Key Skills qualification is on/before 31st August 2010
- Candidates undertaking Key Skills must complete their Key Skills qualifications before 31st August 2011
Further information and guidance on the extension of Key Skills in Apprenticeships in Wales can be found by clicking here.
The full speech delivered can be found on the Department for Business Innovation and Skills website.
