Overview

The public surveys invite you to comment on in-development apprenticeship standards and apprenticeship assessment plans (AAPs).

The purpose of a public survey is to gather additional feedback about apprenticeship proposals, occupational standards and AAPs during their development. This insight helps to inform the final approval decision for these materials.

Unlike a full consultation, a public survey aims to collect a broad snapshot of public and stakeholder opinion, therefore the number and depth of questions differ from those in a typical consultation, and outcomes relating to any responses given are not published.

We publish public surveys for apprenticeship proposals and occupational standards once a month.

In February 2025 the Department for Education (DfE) published new Apprenticeship Assessment Principles. These principles include changes to the way apprenticeships are assessed. To successfully implement these changes, end point assessment plans will be reformed.  Due to the volume of expected AAPs to reform, we publish our public surveys for apprenticeship assessment plans every two weeks. 

Reducing duplication is a key part of the apprenticeship assessment reforms. If a qualification included in the occupational standard assesses all the knowledge and skills statements, an additional apprenticeship assessment may not be required. Where there is no additional assessment, a public survey will not take place.

How you can help

These public surveys will take no more than ten minutes to complete. Your feedback will help to ensure that any apprenticeships that are developed, meet the needs of relevant occupations, and that the apprenticeships are viable, high quality, and widely supported. These public surveys seek your views on apprenticeships at three stages of development:

Proposal Stage

  • Whether you support the development of the proposed apprenticeships
  • Whether you think the proposed apprenticeships would deliver a minimum of 8 months practical training to develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours required for that occupation (this is required as part of our criteria)

Occupational Standard Stage

  • Whether these occupations are similar to or duplicate existing standards

Apprenticeship Assessment Plan (AAP) Stage

  • Whether the information in the assessment plan is appropriate to the occupation

Please be assured this survey is anonymous and any information collated will be used in strict confidence.

If you would like to be added to the survey distribution list, to be notified when a survey is released, please email submissionsurvey.skillsengland@education.gov.uk stating the standard and route you are interested in. This means you will not miss an opportunity to have your say.

Further information

If there are any current apprenticeship surveys they will be displayed below:

17 August 2026 Survey (4-week)

The opening date is 17 Aug 2026 and the closing date is 13 Sept 2026

Apprenticeship Assessment Plan (AAP) Stage

1 September 2026 Survey

The opening date is 1 Sept 2026 and the closing date is 13 Sept 2026

Apprenticeship Assessment Plan (AAP) Stage Occupational Standard Stage

 

What happens next

Your feedback will be considered as part of the development process for new apprenticeships and apprenticeship revisions. We publish a full list of apprenticeships that are in development or have been approved.