The register of end-point assessment organisations Non –integrated Degree apprenticeships – September 2017 Richard Mole CMgr MCM Programme Implementation: Senior Manager – Technical Education Education and Skills Funding Agency Rebecca Rhodes Senior Associate UVAC

Agenda Overview – general principles and mandatory requirements for higher apprenticeships, integrated degree apprenticeships, and degree apprenticeships where separate end-point arrangements exist Undertaking end-point assessment - business model and requirements, and considerations for organisations wishing to deliver end-point assessment Making an application to the register of end-point assessment organisations – understanding the application form and process  

General principles and rules

The Institute An independent employer-led body, the Institute for Apprenticeships, oversees the quality of apprenticeship standards in England. It became fully operational in April 2017. The Institute is responsible for setting quality criteria for the development of apprenticeship standards and assessment plans; reviewing, approving or rejecting them; advising on the maximum level of government funding available for standards; and quality assuring some end-point assessments.   Strategic Guidance for the Institute published 3 April 2017. DfE role, IfA role, ESFA implementation role

What is end-point assessment? End-point assessment is separate to any qualifications or other assessment that the apprentice may undertake during training. Assessments will either be delivered by an independent third party or in such a way that no party who has been involved in delivery of the apprenticeship can make the sole decision on competence and passing the end-point assessment. Note difference for integrated degrees

The role of EPA in apprenticeships All apprenticeship standards contain an holistic assessment of the knowledge, skills and behaviours that have been learnt throughout the apprenticeship - referred to as the end-point assessment This ensures the apprentice is fully competent in the relevant occupation and gives their employer confidence they are “job-ready” EPA design and all decisions relating to how the EPA will be carried out are made by the Trailblazer Employer Group and apply to every apprentice following this Standard

Delivering EPA For all apprenticeships the EPA is always: a separate and independent stage at the end of the apprenticeship undertaken once all gateway requirements have been met graded, where this is a requirement of the standard carried out by organisations registered on the register of end-point assessment organisations for the specific apprenticeship An apprenticeship is only achieved when the EPA is successfully passed.

End-point assessment organisations

Professional Discussion EPA process Assessment Organisation added to the RoEPAO Employer selects organisation from the RoEPAO and informs provider Provider & assessment organisation agree working arrangements & provider formally contracts with organisation Assessment organisation delivers EPA & applies for certificate Assessment organisation receives final payment via provider Professional Discussion If y

How the register will assist employers Employers will use the Register to select an organisation to undertake end-point assessment for them. Employers determine which organisation they will select and the process for selection. The lead training provider will contract with the end-point assessment organisation, on behalf of the employer.

The register today 29 openings 92 organisations on the register 133 standards covered 380 register listings

The end-point assessment organisation An end-point assessment organisation must: have current and relevant occupational experience of the standard have relevant assessment experience and expertise have expertise and capacity to design, develop and deliver the EPA methods as set out in the assessment plan promote itself to employers to support informed employer choice robustly manage conflicts of interest undertake eligibility checks prior to apprentice undertaking EPA directly deliver EPA notify employer of the outcome of EPA apply for the apprentice certificate on behalf of the apprentice provide Quality Assurance of their activity adhere to EQA requirements.

The end-point assessment organisation An end-point assessment organisation must not: promote its service to employers unless it is on the RoEPAO Change the approach to and delivery of EPA as set out in the assessment plan deliver end-point assessment to non-apprentices delegate end-point assessment to a provider deliver the learning elements to the same apprentice

Undertaking end-point assessment

What you need to consider Resource implications Costs of development of assessment tools Eligible assessment costs ‘Back office’ functions Resources – including premises Security & data

Making an application to the register

Making an application We use the Bravo Solution portal for this process as it is the most suitable platform we have for managing the application process securely and efficiently. The Register opens every month for applications. We take any new applications for review at the end of each month. For a few days each month the application will not be available whilst we update it. Any application needs to answer the questions asked and reflect the requirements of the assessment plan/s. We will provide outcomes 6 weeks after the end of the month. If you miss a monthly submission you cannot ‘roll over’ a partially completed application and submit it in a later month. There is no limit to the number of applications an organisation can make or the number of standards that can be included in an application.

The application process The application has four sets of questions. Each one gives us information about the applicant and their suitability to be an end-point assessment organisation: Information about the organisation Their financial governance & Financial self-assessment The organisations occupational capacity & capability The organisations assessment capacity & capability All applicants: complete the online application form respond to questions, make declarations, complete the financial health self-assessment, including submitting latest financial statements, submit accompanying documents where relevant.

Evaluating applications Standard We will not evaluate your application if you do not select a standard. Organisation We will not refuse your application on the basis of your response to any of these questions unless we have evidence that any of your responses has been given in a deliberate attempt to deceive us. Compliance and financial management We will refuse your application if any of your responses fail the compliance and financial management requirements. Financial health We will refuse your application if your financial health assessment outcome is ‘inadequate’. You will need to achieve a minimum of the ‘satisfactory’ grade. The basis for the calculation is set out in documentation referred to in this guidance. Capacity and capability We will refuse your application if your responses do not assure us that your organisation has the required occupational and assessment capacity and capability to deliver EPA in line with the requirements of the assessment plan and the information set out in this document. For example, you have not provided evidence of your policies. SFA aim - Satisfied that an EPA organisation is suitable for employers to consider to select to undertake independent EPA and has sufficient capacity and capability to deliver this assessment for a particular occupation. You can be declined at overall application level – by failing the Financial Health assessment You can be declined at individual standard – by failing to meet [min score ?] May be approved for some but not all standards in a multi standard bid

Inappropriate evidence Some information is missing Evaluation outcomes Inappropriate evidence The evidence presented is not relevant to the question asked and/or to the applicant organisation. Evidence is missing One or more pieces of evidence we would expect to see are not present. Some information is missing Evidence for each of the areas in the questions has been presented, but doesn’t fully cover the criteria being evaluated. Qualified pass We believe all the evidence required has been presented, but need to clarify something to be fully assured the criteria are met. Pass We have been able to take full assurance that the applicant meets the requirements of delivering end-point assessment. SFA aim - Satisfied that an EPA organisation is suitable for employers to consider to select to undertake independent EPA and has sufficient capacity and capability to deliver this assessment for a particular occupation. You can be declined at overall application level – by failing the Financial Health assessment You can be declined at individual standard – by failing to meet [min score ?] May be approved for some but not all standards in a multi standard bid

Things to be aware of… Information about your organisation Complete everything accurately 1.5 Compliance 1.5.6 – repaying funding. If you have previously or currently underspent against a previous ESFA funding contract, this should have been clawed back through ESFA processes. This does not classify as outstanding repaying public funding - tick “D” Confirm whether organisations are suitable to fund Ensure organisations listed and new are: financially robust suitable entities to develop learning and services

Applications – common pitfalls No indication of how assessor occupational practice is maintained - to much focus on academic experience of staff at the expense of occupational Work with employers is limited to training delivery Lack of recognition of particular requirements of the assessment plan Overly brief descriptions in responses, especially of the delivery model Not reading the pre-application guidance or assessment plan

Further information and resources

Checklist I The organisation or staff occupational/assessment capacity & capability : respond to ALL the guidance bullet points Include experience, capacity, capability in the last 3 years.. …Working in the occupation or working with or for employers in the specific occupation Demonstrate relevant experience with the occupation, competencies and job roles - delivery of qualifications is not enough Make your evidence relevant and specific to the individual standard and assessment plan Detail and explain how your evidence supports your case – don’t just attach certificates It is ok not to have current capacity for everything .. …..you must clearly set out what actions you will take to meet this requirement and how / when this is planned Clearly identify where evidence is general to all apprenticeship delivery OR is supporting a specific standard

Checklist II For each standard/occupation that you wish to be registered as an EPA Organisation for; you need to set out separate evidence [or clearly specify which standards your evidence relates to] for the following : 1.9.1 (CC04a) organisational occupational competence to deliver EPA in this occupation 1.10.1 (CC05a) current organisational capacity and capability to deliver a full end point assessment process for this occupation / standard 1.10.2(CC05b) your organisation action plan and processes to be put in place to deliver the processes NOT ticked in 1.10.1 (CC05a) for this occupation [i.e. where you don’t have current organisational capacity and capability to deliver an end point assessment for this occupation / standard] 1.10.3(CC06) the type/mode of assessment you will be delivering for this occupation / standard and how this is relevant to the assessment plan requirements (and within 1.10.4 (CC07a) and 1.10.7 (CC10) your ability and capacity to deliver this type/ mode of end-point assessment) 1.10.4 (CC07a) staff have occupational and assessment experience, expertise and competence to deliver in this occupation/standard 1.10.7 (CC10) How the assessment delivery model will actually operate in this occupation/standard

Further information The Register and application information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-apprentice-assessment-organisations For general queries: apprentice.assessment@education.gov.uk Future Apprenticeship support package, including workshops and one to one sessions. Information is available on the Education & Training Foundation website Information on the Trailblazer process and individual Standards and their Assessment Plans can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/apprenticeship-standards Pre-application guidance

Useful links www.uvac.ac.uk Apprenticeship funding from May 2017 Apprenticeship funding: how it will work Apprenticeship funding: rules and guidance for employers Apprenticeship funding and performance-management rules for training providers Apprenticeship funding: rules for employer-providers Apprenticeship technical funding guide for starts from May 2017 Agreement for training providers (for the provision of levy-funded apprenticeship training) www.uvac.ac.uk