Project details: Finding their way? Advanced apprenticeship as a route to HE

Research Team

1. Professor Alison Fuller (Co-Director)
2. Julie Wintrup (School of Health Sciences) (Co-Director)

Funding Body

Lifelong Learning Network (hefce)

Duration

January 2009 - January 2010

Description

The aims of this project are within the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Lifelong Learning Network

  1. 1. To map and scope the availability and take up of Advanced Apprenticeship across all the LLN’s curriculum areas
  2. 2. To map HE level provision in the LLN partner institutions against Advanced Apprenticeship provision in the all the LLN’s curriculum areas.
  3. 3. To examine admissions policy, publicity materials and practice in relation to applications from those taking the Advanced Apprenticeship route.

Background

The interim evaluation of LLNs undertaken for HEFCE by Little et al. (2008) indicated that the bulk of early activity amongst LLNs had focused on the progression of full-time young learners in college rather than on those pursuing work-based options, including Advanced Apprenticeship. Although, DCSF figures indicate that the proportion of 19 year olds achieving level 3 via Advanced Apprenticeships and work-based qualifications is increasing (DCSF, 2008), little is known about the extent of progression to HE. This project will help Hampshire and Isle of Wight LLN to establish the size of the potential pool of Advanced Apprentices pursuing and achieving Level 3 qualifications in the seven curriculum areas, and to develop strategies and mechanisms for facilitating their progression to HE. Given that the extent of existing progression to HE from Advanced Apprenticeship is a concern of recent government policy (Draft Apprenticeship bill, July 2008), this would appear to be a fruitful area for the LLN to provide evidence of additionality (ie evidence that more individuals from vocational/work-based routes are accessing HE than before the LLN came into action.