School leavers under 16 are now compelled by law to continue their education full-time until they reach 18. You can go to college or sixth form, but you may also do an apprenticeship or traineeship.
So, are apprenticeships considered full-time education? Sure, in a nutshell. If you finish an apprenticeship, you are not breaking the law.
However, don’t confuse full-time education with full-time classroom study; an apprenticeship gives you the best of both worlds: classroom teaching and hands-on experience. In other words, you will be learning on the job.