Bastarding apprenticeships and government tick boxes

[InflagranteDelicto]

Work have enrolled me on a course. When completed I'll have a recognisable qualification in the industry and will be able to register with the professional body, not to mention the pay increase. They use an external provider who administer the course as an apprenticeship so they can get additional government funding. To qualify for the funding one has to prove a basic standard of English and maths equal to GCSE. They have a government tick list that cannot be deviated from

They are refusing to accept my degree certificate & supplement as evidence, and want my GCSE certificates. But xh destroyed them 10 years ago, and I can't afford the £40-80 to replace them.

Why the fuck are GCSE certificates from 21 years ago a better statement of my skills than a degree thats less than 2 years old? The kicker- most of the modules were maths

Would your work be able to help if you explained the situation?

Spoken to Learning & Development and they're trying to help me. But their hands are tied by it being an external company. It's all computer says no.

Get the training provider to book you online Level 2 Functional Skills exams in Maths and English. Do them and move on. Really, that’s the quickest solution.

Rather than plead for exception, can your work invest in you and pay for the replacements? Might be workable as it's within their control? Ask and explain to your boss, HR or head of dept?

Looks like you’ll have to find the money 🤷🏼‍♀️ Should be about £30 a certificate

When I joined the Civil Service years ago, I needed all my certificates but had never collected my A level certificates. I wrote to my school and they sent a letter stating all exams I'd taken with grades. Would that be an acceptable alternative and would your school still have the records?

If you will be going for other jobs then you may need to bite the bullet and pay for replacements. (It may even happen in your own company with promotion of HR procedure changes). Otherwise try one of the solutions suggested by PP.

I work in this sector, its funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency, a government body and there is absolutely no deviating from the Apprenticeship rules I m afraid. There is a national database called the LRS, of all qualifications people have completed. The external company drawing the funding and running your Apprenticeship should search you on there and they may find your GCSE results. It is not 100% though, it depends on whether your school or college uploaded your results at the time. None of mine are on there but its definitely worth checking ! Failing that just do the tests, they are nt that hard especially if you have GCSEs and a degree.

I find it ridiculous that you need these .
I lost mine in a house fire so I don’t have mine either

www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-access-your-personal-learning-record#contents

Can you find out through here?

I enrolled on a Level 7 apprenticeship recently and don't have my certificates. I sent in a letter from my old school with a list of exams I took and the results, and that was accepted.

I don't think the LRS existed 21 years ago so OP is unlikely to be able to use this route.

Agree the only choice is taking L2 functional skills or spend the £30 getting replacements.

Yeah I had to do the exams for my apprenticeship even though I gained a levels previously (although in a different country). At the time they told me that every other qualification in maths and English is outdated after 5 years apart from GCSEs, which last forever! I ended up doing key skills exams, but maybe they aren’t doing them any longer? They were free.

If the course will result in a pay increase, £40 is nothing. Suck it up as a cost of doing business.

OP you can just call your old school and ask them to send out your results. They'll dig them out of the archives and send them on headed paper. Thats what I had to do.

I have this argument with graduates quite often. A degree is not evidence of basic ability in English. I have encountered lots of science graduates who cannot spell, punctuate or construct a coherent sentence.

I am doing the same at work. I didn't have my certificates so I did the English and maths test which came back as not needing to sit any additional classes or courses.

It took me about 30 mins to do both tests.

Is it AAT? I work for an employer who uses this scheme and the college are rubbish. Plus fees way higher than they should be - they are ripping the government off massively, £9k vs £2k max stand alone. You could do it with books, or better still do a professional level qualification if you already have a degree, lots of free online resources.

For that much money i'd just sit the tests. They're not difficult.

SIt the level 2 functional skills. It’s really not that hard

Harry - I’m enrolled on a degree course. The only English language proof needed is being British.

Totally what Girlicorne above said. Would be easier for you to just take func skills and a walk in the park for you I expect.

Just repeating - do the FS exams.
However, don't try to just wing them. I've had graduates fail (separately) Eng Reading (which is comprehension) Eng Writing and Maths when they sat them without preparation, thinking they'd be fine.
All the exam boards have FS sections on their websites where you can download past papers and mark schemes. Have a look at these so that you know what they are actually testing, and how marks are allocated.

I definitely think you need to do a few past papers to tune into what the exam board is looking for. Once you are signed up for an apprenticeship. Your tutor will be able to give you these and talk you through the requirements. If I have a student with prior attainment like this, I aim to get them through ASAP so if if you show them you are capable that should happen.

£30 investment for a recognised qualification and a pay rise. Doesn't seem that bad.