Sentence examples for apprenticeship should be from inspiring English sources

Surely, Antony, such a lengthy, unorthodox apprenticeship should be celebrated?

The commitment for someone in a manufacturing apprenticeship should be the same as for someone studying astrophysics.

This may be because apprenticeships are generally seen as traineeships that may or may not lead to a job at the end – unlike in England where, following criticism over the length and quality of training provision, the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) is keen to stress that an apprenticeship should be a job, and not a course or qualification.

The Deparment for Business has published an independent report saying the quality of apprenticeships should be improved.

Funding for apprenticeships should be reallocated away from the weaker intermediate level qualifications towards advanced and higher apprenticeships to improve job quality, pay, and progression.

Apprenticeships should be boosted as a career path for those who do not wish to pursue the academic route (and some who do).

Jill Stokoe, education policy adviser at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), says: "Although you can see that it's useful for motivating students, the proposal that all apprenticeships should be graded we don't think necessarily is useful.

Teresa Frith, senior skills policy manager for the association, said: "The fact there are 50,000 apprentices aged over 50 is not a bad thing in itself but the government needs to be sure that the training being provided is genuinely meeting the needs of the individual as well as their employer … Apprenticeships should be about providing worthwhile training, not hitting Whitehall targets".

claiming apprenticeships should be as valued as a university degree.

It also says high quality apprenticeships should be available to pupils from the age of 14.

Sally Hunt, head of the academics union, UCU, said: "The government's efforts to expand apprenticeships should be applauded but ministers must recognise that one size simply doesn't fit all.