The latest updates to apprenticeship funding rules for 2024-25 mark a significant shift in how English and maths requirements apply to apprentices. From February 11, 2025, apprentices aged 19 and over will no longer be required to achieve English and maths qualifications to complete their apprenticeship, unless they or their employer choose to opt-in.
At Kingdom Academy, we welcome changes that make apprenticeships more accessible, but we also strongly believe in the value of English and maths as essential workplace skills. Investing in our learners’ development remains a priority, and we will work closely with all employers to determine the right approach for each apprentice – ensuring they receive the skills they need to succeed in their careers.
What the English and Maths Apprenticeship Reforms Mean for Kingdom Academy Learners
Previously, all apprentices were required to achieve Level 2 (Functional Skills or GCSE equivalent) in English and maths before completing their programme. Under the new rules:
- Apprentices aged 19 and over are no longer required to achieve English and maths qualifications to complete their apprenticeship.
- Employers and apprentices can still choose to opt-in if they feel these skills are important for their role or career progression.
- The Department for Education (DfE) will continue to fund English and maths training for adult apprentices who wish to complete it.
- For current apprentices, training will continue unless an agreement is made by April 1, 2025, between the employer, training provider, and apprentice to discontinue it.
This reform is designed to make apprenticeships more flexible and encourage more adults to take part in training, helping to address skill shortages across multiple industries.
Kingdom Academy’s Approach
While the requirement is changing, our commitment to high-quality training remains the same. We recognise that English and maths are essential workplace skills that can improve confidence, communication, and problem-solving—regardless of industry.
At Kingdom Academy, we will:
- Work closely with all our employer partners to determine the right approach for English and maths in their apprenticeships.
- Support learners who want to develop these skills, providing access to training where needed.
- Continue offering funded English and maths training to those who opt-in, ensuring no learner is left behind.
- Champion lifelong learning, ensuring apprentices leave their programmes with the best possible foundation for their future careers.
What This Means for Learners & Employers
For learners, this change means more choice and flexibility in your apprenticeship journey. If you feel confident in your English and maths skills, you can focus on developing other key competencies. However, if you’d like to build your confidence, we are here to support you with training options that fit your learning needs.
For employers, it’s an opportunity to discuss with your apprentices whether additional English and maths support would benefit them in their role and work with us to create the best training plan for their progression.
The removal of mandatory English and maths for apprentices aged 19+ is an important shift in the apprenticeship landscape, offering greater flexibility while still allowing learners to develop the skills they need for success.
At Kingdom Academy, we remain dedicated to ensuring every learner has access to the skills, training, and support they need—whether that includes English and maths or focuses on other key areas of development. We’ll continue working in partnership with employers, apprentices, and industry leaders to make sure our programmes remain high-quality, inclusive, and impactful.
Want to discuss how this change affects you? Get in touch with our team to find out how we can support your apprenticeship journey.