An apprenticeship is designed to develop work-based skills while gaining the knowledge, skills and behaviours in the workplace. Each year, hundreds of schools throughout the midlands utilise apprenticeships to support thousands of staff within the school workforce.

Why should you consider an apprenticeship?

Apprenticeships are seen as a fantastic edition for schools to train new employees and upskill existing staff of all ages in a wide variety of roles. They provide training that is tailored to the needs and requirements through workplace learning and formal training, promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Covering a number of roles and educational levels, examples of apprenticeships suitable for a school setting include:

  • Learning Mentor
  • Teaching Assistant
  • Sports Coach
  • School Business Professional
  • Business Administrator

Apprenticeships are for everyone, not just for young people and new recruits. Through government funding, all apprentices can be supported, as long as they fit the apprenticeship standard as full or part-time employees.

There are also incentive payments available for hiring a new apprentice*                                                                                                                                                                                        Employers can receive £3,000 in addition to the £1,000 that can already be claimed for hiring an apprentice:

  • aged 16 to 18 years old
  • under 25 with an education, health and care plan or who has been in the care of their local authority

So, what are the apprenticeship options for schools?

When considering how to use an apprenticeship, you might want to think about…

  • are other schools in your area already using apprenticeships, and if so what can you learn from them?
  • what skills do your employees need now. and in the future and can apprenticeships help with this?
  • how do the roles in your school fit with apprenticeship training that is currently available?

In the public sector, the government has been committed to increasing both the quantity and quality of apprenticeships. All employers with 250 or more staff will need to consider how they increase the number of apprentices in their workforce, with a target to employ an average of at least 2.3% of their headcount as new apprentice starts. Through an approved training provider, you can support the development of new and existing staff, giving them the opportunity to acquire new skills.

You can see all the apprenticeships we have available on School Apprenticeship

*The incentive payment is available between 1st October 2021 and 31st January 2022