Written question asked by Stephen O'Brien (Conservative) on Tuesday, 28 April 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 30 April 2009. It was answered by Sarah McCarthy-Fry (Labour) on Monday, 18 May 2009 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Apprentices

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the average duration of an apprenticeship under the apprenticeship programme for 16 to 18-year-olds.

Answer: Apprenticeship frameworks typically take between one to three years to complete depending on the level and type of framework, the prior attainment and needs of the apprentice. These factors and an individual's speed of learning mean that length of time as an apprentice can vary enormously. Our primary measure of quality is the completion rate which last year was 64 per cent.; up from 37 per cent. in 2004/05.The Government are committed to rebuilding apprenticeships. Since 1997, we have witnessed a renaissance in apprenticeships from a low point of 65,000 to a record 225,000 apprenticeship starts in 2007/08.

Secondary information