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Youth Worker· 8 min read

Your Level 6 Youth Worker Degree Apprenticeship: An Overview

A group of young people laughing together outdoors

The Level 6 Youth Worker Degree Apprenticeship is delivered by our sister company Premier Pathways and promoted through the National College of Education (NCE).

The apprenticeship gives you the opportunity to develop as a confident, reflective youth work professional while applying your learning directly in your workplace.

You'll combine degree-level study with practical experience, developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to support young people, strengthen youth work practice and contribute to your community.

Throughout the programme, you'll be supported by the Premier Pathways team, alongside your university and workplace, helping you connect your academic learning with your professional practice.

What will you achieve?

You'll work towards a BA (Hons) in Youth Work, studying across Levels 4, 5 and 6 over approximately 36–38 months.

The apprenticeship combines:

Your current workplace is an important part of your learning environment. Throughout the programme, you'll be encouraged to connect academic theory with real situations, challenges and opportunities in your youth work practice.

Who is the apprenticeship for?

The programme is designed for people already working in a youth work or youth-related role who want to develop their professional knowledge, skills and confidence.

It may be suitable for people working with young people in settings such as:

You'll need an appropriate role that gives you opportunities to develop and demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours required by the apprenticeship.

What will you study?

Your learning develops progressively across three years.

Year 1 : Level 4

You'll establish the foundations of professional youth work through modules including:

Year 2 : Level 5

You'll deepen your understanding and begin taking a more strategic approach to your practice through:

Year 3 : Level 6

You'll develop your leadership, management and service development skills through:

The final Capstone Project forms part of your end-point assessment.

How will you learn?

Your apprenticeship uses a blended approach, combining academic learning with workplace practice.

You'll learn through:

Your Professional Learning Mentor (PLM) will support you throughout your apprenticeship, helping you connect your learning to your professional development and workplace practice.

What are your key responsibilities?

As a degree apprentice, you are responsible for actively engaging with your programme.

You'll need to:

What do you need to complete?

To successfully complete the apprenticeship, you'll need to meet the programme and apprenticeship requirements, including:

Your journey

Your apprenticeship is designed to build progressively.

By the end of the programme, you should be able to demonstrate not only what you know, but how you apply your knowledge professionally and how your practice makes a difference to young people.

Who delivers the apprenticeship?

The Level 6 Youth Worker Degree Apprenticeship is delivered by Premier Pathways, our sister company specialising in professional learning and apprenticeship delivery.

The Premier Pathways team supports apprentices throughout their programme with workplace learning, professional development, mentoring and ongoing support.

You can explore the apprenticeship through the NCE website, while the Premier Pathways team supports you throughout your learning journey.

Make the most of your apprenticeship

Your workplace experience is one of your biggest learning resources.

Ask questions. Reflect on your practice. Learn from colleagues. Challenge your assumptions. Seek feedback. Keep evidence of what you do and, most importantly, keep connecting your academic learning to the young people and communities you work with.

Your apprenticeship is an opportunity to develop as a confident, reflective and professionally recognised youth work professional.

Interested in becoming a youth worker?

If you're already working in a youth work or youth-related role and want to develop your professional knowledge, skills and career, the Level 6 Youth Worker Degree Apprenticeship gives you the opportunity to combine paid employment with degree-level study.

Explore the Level 6 Youth Worker Degree Apprenticeship to find out more about the programme, entry requirements and how to register your interest.

Ready to take the next step?

Register your interest in an NCE apprenticeship.

Tell us a little about your role and the sector you work in. A member of our learner team will be in touch with the pathways that fit you best.

Register your interest

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