What is off-the-job training?

Off-the-job training is a statutory requirement for an English apprenticeship. The training must teach new knowledge, skills and behaviours that will contribute to the successful achievement of an apprenticeship. 

According to the ESFA Apprenticeship Funding Rules, off-the-job training:

• "Is training received by the apprentice, during the apprentice’s normal working hours, for the purpose of achieving their apprenticeship."

• "Must be directly relevant to the apprenticeship framework or standard, teaching new knowledge, skills and behaviours required to reach competence in the particular occupation." 

Our Architect L7 Degree Apprenticeship programme has been mapped against all of the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours listed in the Architect Apprenticeship Standard.

How much off-the-job training is included in my apprenticeship?

As an apprentice, you must complete a minimum of 6 hours per week (or equivalent) throughout the practical period. The number of hours we have recommended an Architect L7 Degree Apprentice needs to undertake to pass the apprenticeship at Oxford Brookes successfully is slightly higher than the minimum amount stated above.

The recommended number of off-the-job hours required to complete the apprenticeship will be detailed in your training  plan, available in the documents section in APTEM. Please note the dates are when the Aptem upload is due rather than when the activity takes place.

The programme requires over 52 days off-the-job training per year (1 day equals 7.5 hours). Half of these days are delivered through dynamically intensive blocks hosted online or in Oxford with the exception of the final presentations in year 3 which typically take place in London. Apprentices are expected to engage with all intensives as a basis for accumulating the requisite knowledge. The remaining 26 days are conducted through guided independent study in the workplace in-between intensives, in order to develop pre-requisites and respond to feedback. As a guide this equates to 6.5 days between each intensives. Apprentices will have the flexibility to take these days how they wish.

Please note, although an essential component of the academic year it is not possible to record off-the-job hours for Intensive 4 because the final presentations are considered a consolidation of learning rather than ‘new learning’. 

When will off-the-job training take place?

Intensive teaching periods are held in December, March, June and July each year; with the exception of January starts, who in Year 1 only, engage with intensives in January, March, June and July. This more concentrated Year 1 deliver allows January starters to re-join  the prior September cohort, and share the same course structure & end date.

Intensives 1, 2, 3 all begin on a Sunday. ESFA state that if planned off-the-job training takes place outside of the apprentice's normal working hours, the apprentice should be compensated for this time through time off in lieu (TOIL) or by being paid for these hours. (Q10, Off-the-job training: guide) 

Apprentices have the flexibility to take the recommended 6.5 days between each intensive as they wish as long as they are undertaking and recording their 'new learning'.

What is not counted as off-the-job training?

As stated in the ESFA Apprenticeship Funding Rules:

"It is not training delivered for the sole purpose of enabling the apprentice to perform the work for which they have been employed."

Progress reviews (tripartite meetings), on-programme assessments (time-controlled assessments), travel, and any admin time are excluded from off-the-job training because they do not impart new learning. In most cases mentor meetings are also not off-the-job training; these should only be counted if they lead to new learning.

The National Apprenticeship Services has produced a useful diagram to help determine off-the-job training. However, all off-the-job training must be pre-agreed as part of the original training plan. 

How is off-the-job training recorded?

The University, as training provider,  is responsible for ensuring that off-the-job training is recorded and monitored against the intended hours in the training plan. 

Apprentices need to record off-the-job training on their Training Record each month.  Please see How to record off-the-job training page