What is End Point All About
End-point assessment (EPA) signifies one of the biggest apprenticeship reforms in recent times, and will constitute a large part of the new Trailblazer approach. An EPA is a collection of assessments that offers confirmation of knowledge, skills and behaviours (known as KSBs) for a particular role. It takes place once the apprenticeship training has been completed, and the apprentice is deemed ready for EPA. The EPA must be achieved before an apprenticeship certificate can be issued.
This approach stems from the 2013 government-commissioned Richard Review into apprenticeships, which called for an end to continuous assessment – in favour of an external assessment that more accurately reflected a learner’s capabilities and readiness for a particular role.
What’s more, the independent nature of the assessment is designed to ensure that skills are transferable across different organisations and respected industry-wide
The manner of conducting end-point assessments is developed and outlined by each Trailblazer group once the standard has been approved. In devising chosen criteria, employers decide how to test for occupational competence within their specific industry – a key milestone for apprenticeships.
The EPA doesn’t have to cover every aspect of the standard; instead, it’s designed to be holistic – evaluating the Knowledge Skills Behaviours (KSBs) that should be met over the duration of the apprenticeship.
While Trailblazer groups are free to select a range of methods – such as examinations, interviews, observations at work and professional assignments– the assessment plan must achieve four things: