Overview

This bill transfers the responsibilities and assets of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IFATE) to the Secretary of State for Education, abolishes the IFATE, and makes consequential changes to related legislation.

Description

The bill's core function is to transfer all of IFATE's functions to the Secretary of State. This includes the setting of apprenticeship standards, approval of apprenticeship assessment plans, and oversight of technical education qualifications. The transfer also encompasses IFATE's property, rights and liabilities. The bill abolishes IFATE itself, requiring consequential amendments to various Acts to reflect the change. The Secretary of State gains the power to prepare standards and assessment plans directly if deemed more appropriate, and the frequency of reviews of technical education qualifications and standards is altered. The Secretary of State must report to Parliament within six months of the bill's enactment on the impact of these changes. The bill also modifies the role of Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation, in relation to the accreditation of technical education qualifications.

Government Spending

The bill does not directly specify changes to government spending. The transfer of IFATE's functions to a government department may lead to shifts in budgetary allocation, but the exact financial implications are not detailed in the provided text.

Groups Affected

• The Secretary of State for Education: Gains significant new responsibilities and powers in the areas of apprenticeships and technical education.
• IFATE employees: Their employment may be transferred to the civil service, potentially under altered terms.
• Apprenticeship providers: Will need to adapt to the change in the body responsible for setting standards and approving assessment plans.
• Employers: May experience changes in apprenticeship standards and assessment processes.
• Students: May see changes to apprenticeship standards and the qualifications they pursue.
• Ofqual: Its role in accrediting technical education qualifications is modified.

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