Learning providers call for payment-by-results in schools

According to a policy document from the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP), such a move would provide an incentive to schools to boost attainment in both subjects.

AELP believes that changes to the current funding system are necessary due to new government requirements that demand learners pass GCSE equivalent tests in maths and English before completing an apprenticeship programme.

Training providers are being forced “to rectify in a very short time and for very little money what 11 years of statutory schooling and thousands of pounds’ worth of public investment have failed to achieve,” AELP said.

Under the system being proposed by the association, a proportion of pupil funding would be redirected from schools to apprenticeship providers, should a young person fail to achieve A*-C in maths or English. That funding would then be used to pay for support in the subjects during pre-apprenticeship training.

AELP chief executive Graham Hoyle said: “Payment-by-results might seem a radical idea for schools, but it is nothing new for independent learning providers, including charities, who are providing support for some of the most disadvantaged young people in society. 

“Reforming the funding system in this way would surely offer an incentive to schools to reduce the current failure rate, ensuring a higher proportion of pupils leave statutory education ready and able to be selected onto an apprenticeship programme or be job ready.”

Among other recommendations, AELP is also calling on teachers to better promote apprenticeships in schools. In addition, schools should appoint an “apprentices champion” from their teaching staff and at least one teacher from every secondary school should carry out a work experience stint with a training provider, the association said.