Apprenticeship training provider accountability framework
The framework and specification the Department for Education (DfE) uses to review the quality of apprenticeship training from providers.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
The first 7 foundation apprenticeships are now available.
We recognise that providers will need to adapt delivery in the first year, so foundation apprenticeships will not count towards qualification achievement rates (QAR) in the apprenticeship accountability framework (AAF) for 2025 to 2026.
Foundation apprenticeship achievement rates will still be published in the national achievement rate tables as part of the overall programme.
DfE is reviewing the AAF and plans to publish an updated version in winter 2025. This will align with Ofsted’s new inspection proposals and wider system reforms.
We use this framework to review the quality of apprenticeship provision for apprentices of all ages. This guidance sets out our expectations, including the:
- policy framework’s key principles and objectives
- indicators and thresholds we’ll use to review provider quality
- range of interventions we may take where provider quality issues are identified
The framework is for all providers currently delivering apprenticeships. It sits alongside the:
- funding rules
- guidance on financial health
- apprenticeship provider agreement
Updates to this page
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Updated to confirm that foundation apprenticeship achievement rates will not be included in a provider's qualification achievement rate (QAR) for the 2025 to 2026 academic year.
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Updated 'Apprenticeship training provider accountability framework and specification' to include a new technical annex (Annex 1). The framework and specification now gives further detail on how the AAF indicators are calculated, and amendments to the employer and apprentice feedback sections reflect the improved presentation of this data in the Apprenticeships Service portal.
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Updated 'Apprenticeship training provider accountability framework and specification' with information about new thresholds and benchmarked data.
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Updated 'Apprenticeship training provider accountability framework and specification' with changes to the sections on apprentice feedback, withdrawals, apprentices past planned end date, break in learning. In this update, we are retaining the same indicators, but we are introducing higher thresholds for 3 of the 10 indicators and removing the 250-apprentice threshold that applied to 3 of the measures.
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Added a link to the apprenticeship workforce development programme.
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First published.