Apprenticeship glossary

School-leaving age

What does School-leaving age mean?

The earliest age you can legally leave school. It and the leaving dates differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Find out more

Guide Apprenticeships at 16 and straight after school When you can start an apprenticeship in each UK nation, what you'll be paid at 16, which employers take school leavers and which want you to be 18, and when to apply. Applies to: All of the UK
Participation age
The rule in England that you must stay in education or training until 18. Starting an apprenticeship counts.
SCQF
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework, Scotland's system of levels. Its numbers don't match England's: SCQF Level 6 is the level of a Higher, but Level 6 in England is degree level.
Security clearance
Checks some employers, especially in defence, need you to pass before you can work on certain projects. BAE Systems says everyone needs at least the Baseline Personnel Security Standard.
Shift work
Working set periods that can include early mornings, nights or weekends. Amazon's mechatronics apprentices, for example, may work weekend or night shifts.
Site manager
The person who runs a construction site day to day, keeping work safe, on time and on budget. Morgan Sindall has site management apprenticeships.
Situational judgement test
An online test that describes work situations and asks what you'd do. It's about how you'd behave at work, not what you know.

Definitions are our own plain-English summaries. Where we give figures, they come from the official sources listed on the linked guide or profile. Rules can change, so check the official source before you make decisions.