Scotland’s colleges would support using the money raised from the new apprenticeship levy to fund school-level foundation apprenticeships, the sector’s umbrella body has said.

But this view is not shared by the NUS students’ union, which argued that the funds should go to support more high-priority goals, such as tackling gender inequality.

The apprenticeship levy, which is due to be introduced by the Westminster government next year to help fund the growth of England’s apprenticeship system, will have to be paid by all large UK companies from April.

And while employers in England will be able to use the levy they pay to fund apprenticeship opportunities, it is not yet clear what will happen to the slice of the fund that will be passed to Scotland through the Barnett formula.

In its response to the Scottish government’s consultation on the levy, Colleges Scotland said it would, in principle, “support the use of the apprenticeship levy on foundation apprenticeships, provided that they are fully funded, there is a clear and robust quality assurance framework and that they are integrated into the curriculum and linked to clear progression routes”.

Foundation apprenticeships were piloted in 2014, and allow access to vocational training for young people still in school. The programme has grown significantly since it was first introduced - more than 1,000 young people enrolled this year.

Push for greater equality

The apprenticeships are seen as a way to increase school-college cooperation - one of the key aims of the Developing the Young Workforce agenda. Skills Development Scotland would like them to be offered in every school by 2020.

Rob Henthorn, NUS Scotland vice-president for education, said it was important to do everything possible to increase vocational education options, but that restricting the use of the levy to pay for just one kind of apprenticeship would be a “missed opportunity”.

“Instead, this review, and any subsequent use of the levy, presents an excellent opportunity to address some of the underlying inequalities and barriers that continue to exist within vocational education,” he said.

There remained some significant inequality between the financial support on offer to those entering full-time study or work and those students choosing a vocational route, Mr Henthorn said.

“At best, this simply perpetuates the notion that an apprenticeship is a lesser choice to ‘academic’ education. At worst, it could see many young people forced out of starting an apprenticeship altogether,” he added.

Mr Henthorn also highlighted gender disparities in vocational education, and said that the levy could be used to tackle them.

Colleges Scotland stressed that further work needed to be undertaken in order to ensure that the scheme would deliver. “Currently, it appears that foundation apprenticeships are not fully understood by parents/carers, employers or schools and further work is required to engage with these stakeholders”, it said in its submission to the consultation.

The group also stressed that it should help to shape the skills system under the levy, adding that Scotland would benefit from more coherent and consistent strategies across skills, education, careers advice and employability.

It argued that colleges could provide strong leadership, and could become “regional skills hubs” to ensure a strong regional focus.

A robust quality assurance system was crucial for whatever system was used under the levy, Colleges Scotland said, and its members could provide this.

@JBelgutay