Headline achievement, pass and retention rates
The DfE publish annual achievement, pass and retention rates for apprenticeships (here). Typically, in March, they publish the rates for the previous academic year (Aug – Jul) at a national level, by age, level and apprenticeship (frameworks and standards). Then, in July, they publish the rates for the individual colleges and training providers (known as the National Achievement Rate Tables, or NARTs) – although the DfE chose not to do this for 19/20 and 20/21 owing to Covid disruption.
The headline achievement rate in 2020/21 was 57.7%, down 7.4 percentage points from two years prior (see graph below). To put this in context, the 2020/21 achievement rate for 19+ education and training (non-apprenticeship ESFA funded courses) was 27.8 percentage points higher at 85.5%.
Headline % achievement rates
275,380 leavers in 2020/21. Source: DfE National Achievement Rate Tables
No Data Found
The headline rates mask a very different set of results for frameworks and standards. The achievement rate for standards was just 51.8% in 2020/21 (see graph below), a massive 17.1 percentage points lower than the 68.9% rate for frameworks. Given that all apprenticeships are standards, it is shocking that the achievement rate of 51.8% is 33.7 percentage points lower than the 85.5% achievement rate for 19+ education and training (non-apprenticeship ESFA funded courses).
Headline % achievement rates for standards
181,490 leavers in 2020/21. Source: DfE National Achievement Rate Tables
No Data Found
The pass rate for both frameworks and standards is, and always has been, very high. For 2020/21 it was 98.1% combined, of which 98.5% for frameworks and 97.8% for standards. So, to put it another way, if the apprentice gets to the end of their course they are almost guaranteed to pass.
What causing the low achievement rate, is that nearly half of all apprentices on standards are on the course long enough for the provider to draw down funding (42 days or more from the start date), but then drop-out before the planned end date.
The retention rate for standards in 2021/22 was just 53%, an improvement on 2020/21 but still extremely low (see graph below). This means, of the 181.490 leavers on standards in 2021/22, 96,190 dropped out before getting to the end of the course.
Headline % retention rates for standards
181,490 leavers in 2020/21. Source: DfE National Achievement Rate Tables
No Data Found
The high percentage of apprentices on standards dropping-out is a major concern, and when it was first exposed the then skills minister ordered the civil servants to investigate (see here).
But, whilst there remain many theories and even research involving interviews with apprentices that had dropped out, do we really know why the proportion of apprentices that drop-out is so much higher on standards compared to frameworks?
In a future ADI insights article I will take a closer look at the retention (drop-out) data using quantitative analysis to try and consider why.
Note:
The achievement rate is the proportion of apprentices leavers (275,380 in 20/21) that successfully pass the whole framework or standard.
The pass rate is the proportion of apprentices completers that successfully pass the whole framework or standard.
The retention rate is the proportion of apprentices leavers that successfully complete the whole framework of standard.
And leavers represent only funded apprentices, so excluded those that dropped out during the qualifying period (prior to the 42nd day of their course).
The technical definitions and calculations can be found here.
An ADI one pager on achievement, pass and retention rates can be found here.
