To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what provision the Government make for apprenticeships to give school pupils access to one day or more training every week in a work-type setting. (139887)

Young Apprenticeships give motivated 14 to 16 year-olds the opportunity to pursue industry-specific level 2 vocational qualifications outside of school and in partnership with employers. Learning is a combination of classroom delivery in colleges and direct application in a real working environment, including 50 days work experience. The programme has expanded from the first cohort of 1,000 pupils in 2004-5 to 13,300 on Young Apprenticeships in 2007-8 across a range of sectors.

The KS4 Engagement Programme provides 14 to 16 year-olds at risk of disengagement from education with up to two days a week work-focused learning delivered through a range of college classrooms and work-simulation environments and through work experience with local employers. This programme began in 2006-7 with 6,000 learners and is expanding to 15,300 in 2007-8.