HOW END-POINT ASSESSMENT WORKS
End Point Assessment Methods Explained
End point assessments are the final tests given to an apprentice during their apprenticeship. The goal of this activity is to offer an impartial, objective review of individual skills, knowledge, and behaviours.
Although the activities are different for each apprenticeship, end-point assessments follow the same general structures. The end-point assessment is performed after a minimum of 12 months after the start of the apprenticeship. It must be successfully completed before the issuance of an apprenticeship completion certificate.
Every training provider delivering on Apprenticeship standards must have an agreement with an End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO). Assessment organisations must be registered on the government approved Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). If you have apprentices in the life science, chemical science, physical science or in the science education sector, our fair and straight-forward EPA process provides a cost effective, quality-assured assessment solution for your business.
Marshall Assessment has over 30 years’ experience of work based learning and assessment. We make the unfamiliar structures of end-point assessment easily navigable with comprehensive customer support and assessment resources. We have a broad range of occupational competence that spans most of the UK science sector. Our industry-competent assessors focus on precise communication, clear expectations, and rapid reporting of assessment decisions.
Assessment activities depend on the apprenticeship under evaluation. Individuals might participate in professional discussions, complete skill-based challenges, or perform in situational judgement tests. Portfolios and practical observations are sometimes part of the process, as are presentations, showcases, and interviews.
Each assessment activity works to evidence the knowledge, skills and behaviours that each learner has developed during their apprenticeship. This complete and careful evaluation of their skills, knowledge, and behaviours is an impartial, yet rigorous process that tests the candidates core ability to perform their job role effectively and safely.
The unique benefit that the end-point assessment brings is its holistic design. People retain knowledge and learn new skills in unique ways. Instead of trying to fit each candidate into the same profile, this process looks at the competency of the individual from all facets.
Assessment Plans Achieve Crucial Outcomes. Assessment plans are delivered by the training provider with guidance from the EPAO. This provides structure to the EPA and signposts our assessors to maximise our assessment opportunities.
End point assessments remove managers being the sole decision-makers on the competencies of a candidate. Although, that change can be challenging for some, working with our team ensures that your assessment plan achieves the best possible outcome.
Our assessment team are flexible and will rapidly understand the requirements of your business. We will partner with you to give your apprentices the best possible chance to shine and demonstrate their competencies. This partnership begins with initial assessment and progresses to EPA and beyond, as we will stay in touch with you regarding your apprentice’s progression.
Now is the time to link up with your EPAO. Our future depends on the expertise that your apprentices demonstrate in the science sector. Together we are responsible for building a brighter, safer world through a highly trained and competent scientific workforce. Use the experience our team provides to help your organisation and the science sector to bounce forward.
End Point Assessment key facts, and the importance of early engagement with your End Point Assessment Organisation
Apprenticeship standards are developed by groups of employers, known as ‘trailblazers’, to make sure they are occupation-focused. Each standard sets out key Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours (KSBs) that employers have identified they need.
These occupational standards are assessed at the end of the apprenticeship to evidence that your apprentice can demonstrate the KSB’s required to perform their job.
Although the training provider will be involved in arranging the End-Point Assessment (EPA), the assessment itself must be independent. The training provider must work with the End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) and have a written agreement in place in order for the apprentice to effectively move through their apprenticeship.
Only organisations on the government approved Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR) and who are externally recognised by Ofqual and/or The Office for Students, can undertake end point assessments. Marshall Assessment are an Ofqual recognised assessment organisation listed on APAR.
Your apprentice will be assessed to demonstrate what they have learnt, and that they can perform all aspects of the occupation. Marshall Assessment makes sure all apprentices following the same standard are assessed consistently.
Each standard includes an end-point assessment plan, which describes how the apprentice should be tested against appropriate criteria, using suitable methods. You must be familiar with this plan to assess your apprentice in line with the trailblazer standards.
It is important to get in touch with us early in the apprenticeship to check what the assessment involves and to ensure that you understand the requirements of the assessment plan. This will give your apprentice plenty of time to prepare - for example, they will need to gather evidence to show how they’ve been working towards the core knowledge, skills and behaviours for that particular standard, we can help you to understand this process so your assessment strategy is aligned with ours.
We have a lot to talk about...
When you get in touch with us we will talk with you about:
the content of the assessment plan, your needs
any special requirements or needs your learners may have
how many apprentices need EPA and when they will require EPA
the platform that we will use to share information with you
mock resources we will give you to enable your apprentice to best prepare for their EPA.
Following this initial discussion, you will receive a contract and a schedule from us. When we receive the signed contract (it’s an ESFA requirement to have a contract between the Training Provider and the EPAO) and the schedule, detailing how many apprentices you have enrolled and on which standards, we will release our mock EPA materials and invite you to join various online support sessions.
100% of the EPA fee will be due 30 days after the EPA itself. This means that you can use your completion funds to cover 100% of your EPA costs. We know how difficult it can be keeping the cash flowing in your business, so we have developed a system that allows you to focus all of your profiled payments into providing a high quality learning experience for your apprentices!