Berkshire School Shines Spotlight on Appeal of Degree Apprenticeships Ahead of National Apprenticeship Week

Local independent boarding and day school for girls, Downe House, has highlighted the growing appeal of degree apprenticeships ahead of National Apprenticeship Week 2025 (10-16 February) in line with the numbers of young people across the UK who are rethinking their future educational options. 

Given the increasing headlines around whether universities are adequately preparing students for the future workplace, alongside the growing feeling that traditional degree courses may not offer true value for money, it is hardly surprising that many young people are rethinking the direction of their educational pathway.

Sarah Barnard, Director of Futures at Downe House School explains, “For many young people today, degree apprenticeships offer the perfect synthesis of qualifications alongside exposure to the workplace, which can be very appealing in a world facing unprecedented skills shortages and where emerging leaders are dwindling across many sectors.”

Degree apprenticeships offer young people the chance to study for a full undergraduate or master’s degree while simultaneously working and gaining valuable industry experience. The apprentice will essentially split their time between university study and the workplace, while being employed throughout the process.

 “There has certainly been a cultural shift where young people today are much more aware of managing their wellbeing alongside the increased cost of living. This means that the past stereotype of students who don’t work but party hard is perhaps not as appealing as it once was,” added Mrs Barnard.

Degree apprenticeships can lead to many different career paths, including traditional fields such as law, accountancy and engineering to more contemporary or creative fields such as AI, media, art or digital marketing. Degree apprenticeships can also provide students with the chance to gain professional accreditation as part of the process, whereas with a traditional degree they would need to engage in further study upon completion. 

Sarah Barnard is Director of Futures at Downe House School

 A sixth form student at Downe House School said, “Degree apprenticeships are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to the typical university route due their low cost and being more appropriate for those looking into a more hands-on, practical field. It also gives graduates an edge when applying for jobs, as they already have some work experience.”

While another Downe House student commented, “I think degree apprenticeships are a really good way to earn money whilst completing a degree and gaining work experience at the same time. Personally, I think the work experience would help me develop a lot of the essential skills that future employers would value when I graduate.”

One of the shifts Downe House School is also seeing is students looking beyond the UK for more varied study options. “More often today, our students are keen to look at offerings globally, as they feel they will have a more rigorous educational experience with more contact hours and more dynamic teaching experiences,” concluded Mrs Barnard.