Future of apprenticeships in England: Richard Review next steps

The ‘Implementation Plan’ responds to the consultation and sets out policy, process and timescales for reforming apprenticeships in England.

Reforms will make sure that apprenticeships become more rigorous and more responsive to the needs of employers. The quality of apprenticeships will be improved through introducing:

• higher expectations on English and maths
• grading, eg pass, merit and distinction
• an increased emphasis on assessment at the end of an apprenticeship

‘Trailblazers’ will lead the way in implementing these new apprenticeships. The first 8 trailblazers are announced in the ‘Implementation Plan’. The ‘Guidance for trailblazers’ (Apr 2017) sets out the next steps for this work.