Published
The Department for Education (DfE) have published guidance on the new public sector apprenticeship target. It requires prescribed groups and public sector bodies with 250 or more staff in England to have a target to employ an average of at least 2.3% of their staff as new apprentices over the period of 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2021. Bodies in scope of the target are required to provide an annual return of two parts, detailing amongst other things their progress towards the target, to the DfE.
The guide explains those public-sector organisations that are in scope of the target, this includes Schools and Academy Trusts but excludes Further Education Colleges and Universities. Schools where the staff are employed by a larger employer group (a local authority, a governing body which controls more than one school, or a multi-academy trust) with more than 250 employees will come within scope of the target for their employer, and will want to consider how to contribute towards it.
For more information, please see the Public Sector Apprenticeship Guidance.