English and maths in apprenticeships

English and maths come up a lot when you look at apprenticeships, and the rules aren’t always explained well. This guide covers England.

Starting vs finishing

There are two separate questions:

1. Do you need English and maths to start? That’s up to the employer. Some ask for GCSEs at grade 4 or 5, and some ask for nothing at all.
2. Do you need them to finish? That’s set by the government, and depends on your age when you start.

The rules for finishing

Your age at the start	What happens
16 to 18	If you don’t already have suitable English and maths qualifications, you must achieve them to complete your apprenticeship
19 or over	Optional since 11 February 2025. You can still be funded to study up to Level 2 if your employer agrees

The government publishes a list of accepted qualifications. Many apprentices take Functional Skills Level 2, which focuses on using English and maths in everyday life and work.

Your time is paid

If English and maths are part of your apprenticeship, GOV.UK says you must be paid for the time you spend studying them, and your employer should give you time in your normal working hours. This is separate from your other off-the-job training.

How employers handle it

• Aldi’s Career Starter store apprenticeship needs no qualifications to start, and you take Level 2 Functional Skills alongside it.
• Kier says you need Level 2 maths and English before you finish, and its training provider helps you get them.
• Tesco’s Stronger Starts apprenticeship needs no GCSEs.

If maths isn’t your thing

Don’t let it put you off. Many apprentices work towards their English and maths during their apprenticeship, with support. Our guides to apprenticeships without GCSEs and what to do if you didn’t get the grades have more options.