Foundation Apprenticeships

Foundation Apprenticeships at SCQF Level 6 provide work-based learning opportunities for learners in their senior phase of secondary education.

Spending part of the school week with a learning provider and a local employer, learners work towards a Foundation Apprenticeship alongside their other qualifications such as National 5 and Highers.

Completing a Foundation Apprenticeship can lead to progression on to a job, such as a Modern or Graduate Apprenticeship.

We are also working in partnership with Skills Development Scotland to pilot Foundation Apprenticeships at SCQF Levels 4 and 5.

More information about Foundation Apprenticeships is available on the Skills Development Scotland website.

Use the tabs below to open each section individually. Alternatively you can show all the sections.

Title Code
Accountancy GR6D 46
Business Skills GV1M 46
Civil Engineering GL51 46
Creative and Digital Media GT6M 46
Engineering GR93 46
Financial Services GR6F 46
Food and Drink Technologies GN26 46
IT: Hardware/System Support GR53 46
IT: Software Development GR54 46
Scientific Technologies GN14 46
Social Services and Healthcare GL52 46
Social Services: Children and Young People GL7A 46

Temporary Frameworks

SQA introduced temporary frameworks in 2020 to address challenges faced by centres. These will end in 2024.

2020-24 Temporary Care Frameworks

Two temporary frameworks were developed for Social Services and Healthcare, and Social Services: Children and Young People, which retain the same or similar learning outcomes from the original frameworks, while removing the requirement for direct work placement.

Title Code
Social Services and Healthcare (Customised Route) GR84 46
Social Services: Children and Young People (Customised Route) GR85 46

SQA and SDS can confirm that learners who are starting a Foundation Apprenticeship in 2024-25, completing in 2025 or beyond, must be assessed using the original Foundation Apprenticeship frameworks and accordingly, learn and be assessed in a workplace.

Each Foundation Apprenticeship framework contains the following components:

  • A National Certificate (NC) or National Progression Award (NPA) - an industry recognised qualification which is taught within a classroom environment;
  • Selected Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) units or Diploma units - developed through National Occupational Standards, the units are completed within a work place environment.
  • Or SQA Customised units based on the same underpinning National Occupational Standards as the SVQ/Diploma units - developed to give a broader definition of 'the workplace' to offer more flexibility of delivery and assessment.
  • The Work-based challenge unit (J4YL 04) will be mandatory for candidates starting the following five Foundation Apprenticeships:
    • Financial Services (GR6F 46)
    • Business Skills (GR50 46)
    • Accountancy (GR6D 46)
    • IT: Hardware/Systems Support (GR53 46)
    • IT: Software Development (GR54 46)

Professional qualifications are also contained within the Accountancy and Food and Drink Technologies frameworks, which enable learners to gain industry specific skills within their apprenticeship.

SQA and Skills Development Scotland (SDS) are delivering a work-based learning pilot at SCQF Levels 4 and 5, which will give S3 to S6 pupils across Scotland the opportunity to achieve work-based learning qualifications at an earlier stage of learning.

The pilot, which ran for the first time in 2020-21, is now part of the Foundation Apprenticeship initiative.

Centres involved in the pilot are selected through an SDS procurement process.

Learners on the pilot work towards achieving a Customised Award in three subject areas: Automotive, Hospitality and Construction.

The Customised Award consists of:

  • Skills for Work course (Hospitality and Automotive) or National Progression Award (Construction)
  • Work-based Challenge Unit

The Work-based Challenge Unit will give learners the opportunity to work with a local employer to design, develop and deliver a project.

This will help develop the learner's meta skills - such as creativity, team-working and self-management, which can contribute to work readiness - alongside the technical skills required for the project.

Title Code
Work-Based Skills: Automotive at SCQF Level 4 GR4F 04
Work-Based Skills: Construction at SCQF Level 4 GR4H 04
Work-Based Skills: Construction at SCQF Level 5 GR4G 04
Work-Based Skills: Hospitality at SCQF Level 4 GR4J 04
Work-Based Skills: Hospitality at SCQF Level 5 GR4K 04

Approval Criteria for Foundation Apprenticeships at SCQF levels 4 and 5: Pilot 2021–22 (140 KB)

Further details and guidance for centres involved in the pilot is available on the SDS website.

The following document details the roles and responsibilities of organisations involved in partnership delivery of a Foundation Apprenticeship:

The following specific guidance is available for the Foundation Apprenticeship in Food and Drink (GN26 46):