Foundation Apprenticeships are a vital part of Scotland’s education system, helping young people learn the skills that will support them with their next steps, including moving on to employment and further learning.
These opportunities are important in developing young people’s skills as we move towards recovery and renewal from the pandemic and support young people.
Foundation Apprenticeships give schools, pupils and employers the opportunity to create links that will help rebuild the economy.
The Scottish Government recognises the benefits of work-based learning in school through its ongoing commitment to Foundation Apprenticeships at SCQF Level 6 and further investment in pilot opportunities at SCQF Levels 4 and 5.
SDS will continue to work with you on the development and delivery of Foundation Apprenticeships, to support nationwide uptake, working with schools and learning providers to build awareness with young people and parents on a local level.
SDS and SQA are working together to provide support to all those delivering and benefitting from Foundation Apprenticeships.
Joint work is ongoing to provide learning providers with guidance to help pupils due to finish their Foundation Apprenticeships at the end of 2020/21 Academic Year.
SQA has also written to schools regarding the school/college partnerships on assessments for Vocational Qualifications.
Support is needed from all those involved in the delivery of Foundation Apprenticeships to ensure learners can achieve outcomes.
SDS recognises the significant challenges local authorities and schools are facing and is supporting FA learning providers in regions to enable Foundation Apprenticeships to be prioritised in timetabling over the next few months to support achievement for learners.
To support learning providers, SQA’s website contains the most up to date guidance on approaches to assessment.
This includes updates to subject specific guidance and a Decision Tree to support centres in determining the appropriate route for assessment of the Group Award, using evidence based professional judgement.
SQA’s Centre Hub also has a dedicated area for centres who are approved to deliver Foundation Apprenticeships.
To ensure that the NQ certificate which learners receive on Results Day on 10 August lists their achievement of the Foundation Apprenticeship, providers should have results on the SQA system by 21 July. As in previous years, the Foundation Apprenticeship certificates will be issued separately by 10 August.
As we work towards the outcomes for this academic year, further support is available to all our partners.
Support is available by contacting SQA at qualification.development@sqa.org.uk and SDS will continue to provide ongoing support at a sectoral and regional level. SDS has also published guidance on placement options and some examples of industry engagement to support providers.
Individual learners will be able to access support from SDS Career Information, Advice and Guidance advisers based in schools and during results (Results Helpline: 0808 100 8000).
In planning for the next academic year, SDS and SQA is looking forward to working with all those who supported the delivery of adaptations and enhancements of Foundation Apprenticeships.
Significant collaboration across schools, local authorities, employers and learning providers has ensured that Foundation Apprentices will continue to benefit from work based learning, gaining the knowledge and skills identified by employers.
We thank you for your ongoing support and look forward to continued partnership working.