Apprentice trainers were led to believe that full funding for a level 3 apprentice would be ‘clawed back’ if the apprentice did not pass their maths and English GCSEs by the end of their course.
The SFA has now issued a correction, saying that only the final payment – about 20 per cent of the funding – would be withdrawn in this scenario.
The original information from the SFA servicedesk reads, ‘If the learner does not achieve their maths/English by the end of the EYE course then this (EYE) would need to be coded as withdrawn - no achievement as they wouldn't have met the eligibility as set out in the funding rules 14/15. Regarding the funding, if anything needs to be clawed back it will be done so automatically.’
However, this morning, the SFA corrected this: ‘We are reviewing the funding rules for 2015/16 in light of the ministerial announcement [on GCSEs as an exit, rather than entry, requirement] and expect to issue a revision shortly.?? Where the completion of an apprenticeship framework is dependent on successfully completing qualifications, in this case, English and maths, then it is the completion payment for the framework that is withheld.
'The advice given by the Service Desk was incorrect and we would not claw back the whole of the funding.?? We will be issuing communications to clarify this and will ensure that the Service Desk advice is corrected.?? I hope this gives you the assurance you were seeking.’
The news comes after the Government decided to scrap its plan to require all apprentices to have the minimum grade C GCSEs to start an apprenticeship, and is now requiring these on completion.
A spokesman from the SFA said: 'The SFA will be providing clarity to providers around EYE apprentice funding over the next week.
'To confirm, if a learner has not received their English and/or maths by the end of their EYE apprenticeship framework, the provider will not receive their achievement payment. However, other funding earned up to that point will not be affected.'
Chrissy Meleady, chair of the employers Trailblazer Group, said, the loss of the remaining 20 per cent was still unfair. ‘The fact the training providers are being told they must pick up the final tab for any GCSE failures is a real disincentive, epsecially for smaller providers.
'Sections of the sector cannot understand why they are picking up the tab for failures in schools.’