What are HDA’s?
HDAs are Work-Based training programmes that are designed to help employers train people for specific job roles. Apprentices at all levels have a full-time job including Work-Based training whilst also studying part-time for a qualification.
Essentials components and considerations for HDA provision
Click on each component for more information:
What is a Higher Apprenticeship?
A Higher Apprenticeship covers delivery from levels 4 to 7 by any higher education or further education institution. At SHU, Higher Apprentices study part-time at levels 4 and 5 for a Foundation Degree, whilst undertaking on-the-job vocational learning and development with their employer. Depending on the programme these take from 2 to 3 years to complete.
What is a Degree Apprenticeship?
A Degree Apprenticeship describes delivery at level 6 and 7 by higher education institutions only. At SHU, Degree Apprentices study part-time at levels 4, 5 and 6 for a Bachelor’s Degree, whilst undertaking on-the job vocational learning and development with their employer. Depending on the programme, these take from 2 to 3 years to complete.
What governs HDA structure?
There are two types of HDA structure currently available for delivery
Apprenticeship Frameworks – developed by a variety of standards setting bodies across different industry sectors (such as Sector Skills Councils). A full list of Apprenticeship Frameworks can be found on the Institute for Apprenticeships site.
Apprenticeship Standards – developed by groups of employers known as ‘Trailblazers’. They were introduced following the Richards Review of Apprenticeships and were designed to put employers in the driving seat in terms of specifying the skills, knowledge and attitudes employees need to demonstrate for a specific job role. They are also intended to be shorter and clearer, expressed in the right language for employers and employees. A full list of Apprenticeship Standards (available and in development) can be found on the Institute for Apprenticeship site.
Bu 2020, all Apprenticeship Frameworks will be replaced by the new Apprenticeship Standards and all new Degree Apprenticeships will be developed using the Apprenticeship Standards model.
What are the HDA compliance requirements?
HDAs have twin governance drivers. In addition to SHU’s quality assurance process there are also external compliance requirements from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). If SHU cannot demonstrate adherence it risks having its HDA licence revoked by the ESFA, and/or funding clawed back.
Full compliance guidance can be found in the Compliance section of this resource.
What is ‘end point assessment’ and why is it important?
All Apprenticeship Standards involve an End Point Assessment (EPA) which is a synoptic test of the apprentice’s knowledge, skills and behaviours gained through their apprenticeship course and work-based experience. This assessment will typically be conducted through a third party that is independent from the delivery of the course and training, though there are some exceptions where the EPA is integrated directly into a degree award.
Deep can talk to you about the process for identifying the Assessment Organisation. SHU is currently applying to deliver the EPA in Health Care Science (an integrated EPA) with other applications planned.
Apprentice’s will complete the final stage of their course learning in the workplace, often long after any SHU module attendance has finished. The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) withholds 20% of the final payment per apprentice until completion of this final stage has been evidenced through EPA. The EPA is the final gateway for SHU to achieve 100% student funds payment. HDA course design must make clear resource and procedural provision for this evidence requirement, typically through a portfolio approach.
How can HDAs be developed?
HDAs can be developed from the ground up as a new programme. This might be for a specific employer or for an industry sector. Alternatively they can be coordinated alongside existing course provision, effectively providing different funding routes into a programme. Because of the vocational focus of HDAs there are always Work-Based Learning (WBL) elements. It is important to consider this from the outset, particularly when considering the applicability of existing provision for HDA development.
For a quick guide to getting started please read Creating a Higher and Degree Apprenticeship
How are new SHU HDAs approved and endorsed?
Course approval can be through normal faculty quality processes or it can be through the Work Based Learning Framework (WBLF), which aims to provide a responsive process to meet employer driven course development. In addition course delivery teams must gain endorsement from the SHU WBLF ‘standing panel’ to ensure that their proposed course will support the apprentice to gain knowledge, skills and behaviours required to meet the EPA. A mapping exercise and evidence of appropriate learning options and support are central to gaining endorsement and recommendations for delivery.