Understanding our apprenticeship achievement rates
You may have noticed that our latest published apprenticeship pass rate appears lower than expected. This is because the figure shown in national datasets is calculated within a fixed reporting window set by the Department for Education, which doesn’t match the full length of an apprenticeship programme.
The result of this year presents an anomaly because of a large increase in the number of apprentices coming on board with APA and a problem with the methodology used by the DfE to measure the success rate in a certain time period being different to the length in which an Apprentice studies. This resulted in numbers that are incorrect and do not truly reflect the actual success rate of our apprentices. The DfE have acknowledged this but unfortunately are not able to correct it now that it has been published, therefore please see below for the correct achievement rates.
Our performance remains strong
While the published figure may show as 41%, our actual learner outcomes remain strong and consistent. When we measure full programme completions, 78% of our apprentices who start the course, successfully achieve their qualification. There are various reasons why learners would need to stop their course before completion such as life events etc.
Key results
- 78% of all learners who commence study with APA successfully complete the apprenticeship.
- 100% of learners that complete the full apprenticeship programme, pass.
- 80 % of EPA passes are with Distinction
- 100% of all learners that successfully complete the apprenticeship achieve either a pay rise or promotion or continue on to the next level of study.
What is End-Point Assessment (EPA)?
End-Point Assessment is the final stage of an apprenticeship and provides independent confirmation that a learner is fully competent in their role. Our 100% EPA pass rate shows that learners are well-prepared and meeting the required industry standards.
Why published and actual results can differ
The difference is mainly timing. National reporting is produced within a defined period, while apprenticeship programmes often span longer timeframes. As a result, some successful completions fall outside the published reporting window which results in incorrect figures being published.
What this means for employers and learners
There’s no cause for concern. Our focus is on supporting learners through to successful completion, and our outcomes reflect that—high achievement rates alongside excellent EPA results.
How we support learner success
- Structured support throughout the apprenticeship programme
- Expert coaching and regular progress reviews
- Focused preparation for End-Point Assessment (EPA)
What to look at when measuring performance
The most meaningful measure is how many learners successfully complete their apprenticeship and demonstrate competence. On that basis, our results remain strong, with 78% achievement and 100% EPA success.
*Update from 30th April: The Department for Education have written to APA to acknowledge the following:
The decline was a one-off due to a misunderstanding of submission dates
process for QAR. This is now resolved following audit and a QAR of >60% is
predicted for 2025/26.*
If you’d like to understand the data in more detail or discuss how we can support your apprentices, please get in touch with our team at studycentre@apatraining.co.uk