Insight blog

England’s apprenticeship system is undergoing a significant period of change. As we move deeper into 2026, the conversation is shifting from the "why" of policy to the "how" of practice. These reforms mark a shift from assessment as a mechanism of control to assessment as a source of confidence for learners, employers, and providers alike.

However, for this shift to succeed, the sector must bridge the gap between high-level ambition and the day-to-day realities of delivery.

Whether you’re an England-based employer who offers apprenticeship programmes or work within a provider team that tracks learning and trains students, you’re already part of a national transition towards apprenticeship reform.

With the 2026 rollout now in full swing, how can you best prepare for the latest changes? Check out these five top tips for support.

Welcome to the March 2026 edition of the Pearson Functional Skills blog. Over the past three months, Pearson has been carrying out research on the appropriacy of the contexts for our Functional Skills assessments. As part of this research, we gathered feedback from 119 maths practitioners each sharing their perspective on the value of Functional Skills maths. In this blog, we’ll explore those insights and what they tell us about the impact of the qualification for learners and providers.

Welcome to the March 2026 edition of the Pearson Functional Skills blog. Over the past three months, Pearson has been conducting research on the appropriacy of the contexts for our Functional Skills assessments. As part of this research, we gathered feedback from 156 English practitioners each sharing their perspective on the value of Functional Skills English. In this blog, we’ll explore those insights and what they tell us about the impact of the qualification for learners and providers.

Welcome to the second Pearson Functional Skills blog for March 2026. Over the past three months, Pearson has been conducting research on the appropriacy of the contexts for our Functional Skills and Essential Digital Skills assessments. As part of this research, we received a variety of responses from Digital practitioners, each sharing their perspective on the value of the qualification suite they offered. In this blog, we’ll explore those insights and what they tell us about the impact of the qualifications for learners and providers.

Welcome to the February 2026 edition of the Pearson Functional Skills blog. In this article, we take a closer look at the recently published Ofsted Report Cards for Further Education and Skills, with a particular focus on inclusion.

Hello and welcome to the Pearson Functional Skills blog for December 2025, Part 2. In this edition, we’ll explore ResultsPlus for Functional Skills English, and how it can support teaching, learning and provide meaningful feedback for individual learners.

Hello and welcome to the Pearson Functional Skills blog for December 2025, Part 1. In this edition, we’ll explore ResultsPlus for Functional Skills Maths and Digital, and how it can support teaching, learning, and provide meaningful feedback for individual learners.

Hello and welcome to the Functional Skills Blog for October 2025. This month we will be looking at Reasonable Adjustments. The purpose of this blog is to provide guidance on what adjustments can be made. This is an update on the blog for 2024-25 and includes two important changes.