The updated provider access legislation (PAL) has now been enacted (January 2023). It specifies that schools must provide at least six encounters with approved providers of technical education qualifications and apprenticeships for all their students:     

• Two encounters for pupils during the ‘first key phase’ (Year 8 or 9) that are mandatory for all pupils to attend  

• Two encounters for pupils during the ‘second key phase’ (Year 10 or 11) that are mandatory for all pupils to attend  

• Two encounters for pupils during the ‘third key phase’ (Year 12 or 13) that are mandatory for the school to put on but optional for pupils to attend  

This new legislation will become a key mechanism to further help learners understand and take-up, not just apprenticeships, but wider technical education options such as T-Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications. 

Provider Access Legislation MUSTS: 

Schools must ensure the provider of technical education or apprenticeships provides information to pupils that, as a minimum, includes: 

• Information about the provider and the approved technical education qualifications or apprenticeships that the provider offers 

• Information about the careers to which those technical education qualifications or apprenticeships might lead 

• A description of what learning or training with the provider is like 

• Responses to questions from the pupils about the provider or approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeship 

What counts as an approved technical education qualification or apprenticeship? 

Technical pathways offer qualifications designed with employers that will give pupils the skills the economy and society need. 

There are a number of high-quality options available to students. Options in full-time education are T Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs).  

Options that combine work and study are apprenticeships, traineeships and supported internships. 

How we meet PAL for the academic year 2023-2024: