Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students (a) began and (b) completed level (i) 3, (ii) 4, (iii) 5, (iv) 6 and (v) 7 apprenticeships in each year between 1997 and 2024.

Apprenticeship starts and achievements are published by level from academic year 2002/03 and can be found in the following links:

2017/18 to 2023/24 (reported to date):

https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/c63cef58-95e2-4f9e-b7d1-08dcab23a860.

2014/15 to 2016/17:

https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/bd0d64fd-52e9-4a1e-b7d2-08dcab23a860.

2002/03 to 2013/14 apprenticeship starts:

https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fmedia%2F5a82b65940f0b62305b93f40%2Fapprenticeships-starts-by-framework-level-and-gender.xls&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK.

2002/03 to 2013/14 apprenticeship achievements:

https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fmedia%2F5a7f5c50e5274a2e8ab4bb61%2Fapprenticeships-achievements-by-sector-subject-area-level-and-age.xls&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK.

To note, intermediate apprenticeships are equivalent to level 2, Advanced apprenticeships are equivalent to level 3 and Higher apprenticeships are equivalent to those at level 4 and above. Apprenticeship starts and achievements within an academic year cannot be used to infer the proportion of apprenticeships that are achieved. They are independent performance metrics. Typically, apprenticeships are achieved in a subsequent academic year to the one they started in.