1. Apprenticeship End Point Assessment
Cherie Heaven
Director, EPAO

2. Overview of End Point Assessment

3. What is End Point Assessment?
‘The purpose of the end point assessment (EPA) is to test that an apprentice is fully capable of doing their job before they receive their apprenticeship certificate. It also helps to demonstrate that what an apprentice has learned can be applied in the real world.’ ..ESFA Gov Website

4. Framework V Standard Framework Standard
Frameworks are primarily qualification-focused. The main aim at the end of a framework is to have achieved a competency-based qualification, such as an NVQ, and a technical qualification, such as a BTEC
Standards are occupation-focused; they are not qualification-led. The learning happens throughout the apprenticeship. And the apprentice is assessed at the end. They need to prove that they can carry out all aspects of their job. They develop transferable skills and gain credibility too

5. When does EPA take place?

6. What does EPA look like?

7. (In broad terms) What does each method assess?
KNOWLEDGE
Professional Discussion
Practical assessment
Observation
Interview
Written Test or MCQ
Project
Learner Log
Presentation or Showcase
(Portfolio)
SKILLS
Practical assessment
Observation
Project
Learner Log
Presentation or Showcase
BEHAVIOURS
Professional Discussion
Practical assessment
Observation
Interview
Project
Learner Log
Presentation or Showcase
(Portfolio)

8. EPA as a sector

9. What does the EPAO landscape look like?
There are currently 236 registered EPAOs
There are 454 approved standards up to L8
There are 25 between L7 and L8
There are 67 at L6
There are 362 up to L5
There are 80 standards with no EPAO
There are 237 with 3 or less EPAOs approved

10. Top 5 represented standards

11. Top 10 EPAOs (by volume approval)
Provider Name
Number of standard EPA’s
City and Guilds
NOCN
Pearson Education Limited
Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance
(HABC)
Training Qualifications UK
DSW Consulting
Innovate Awarding Limited
Occupational Awards Limited
BIIAB
NCFE/CACHE 50 46 42 31 30 27 24 23 21

12. Governance & Quality
Like on programme delivery is quality assured, so is EPA
EPAOs are regulated by external quality assurance bodies (EQA)
Currently 18 approved EQA bodies e.g. Ofqual (14%), IfATE (48%), NSAR (5.5%)
New EPAO EQA framework was released this week!!!

13. JGA Journey so far and moving forward

14. So far .. Entry onto RoEPAO
First standard approval (Live Event Rigger)
Policies and processes
Market research
Customer insight
Marketing & Branding
Second standard approval (Employability Practitioner)
Set short, medium and long term business strategies

15. Short term
Look for niche standards with no EPAO e.g. Live Event Rigger, Papermaker
Look for under represented standards with larger volumes e.g. data analyst
Why? – to generate income to sustain and invest in long term strategy, as well as gain credibility, performance and experience

16. Medium term
Deliver EPA for new standards (from inception) e.g. Employability Practitioner, Career Development Professional
Review processes, performance, feedback and financials
Why? – to test the additional services we can offer ITP’s, FE’s and employers. To review the costs to ensure that our offer provides value for money and quality, before moving onto long term strategy

17. Long term
Move to a subscription based model for ITP’s, FE’s and employers, delivering an end to end support model
Service our ‘customer’, not just the standard … be their EPA of choice for all EPA
Why? – working smarter, not harder!! Sustainability in an ever changing market, being adaptable to our customers as an EPAO (…AO???)

18. Activity Time!!...
What are (would be) your top 5 key decisions when selecting an EPAO?
5 mins to discuss then feedback 
top 3

19. Synopsis …
A lot of work is being undertaking to build a quality brand and service that can competitively compete and sustain, in the EPAO industry
Please contact me if anyone would like to discuss/ contribute any ideas to this exciting opportunity
Remember, you are all brand ambassadors, so please promote this service at any given opportunity
Thank you all for your time and contributions

20. The End!