EngEPA Prepares for Major Changes to Apprenticeship Assessment

EngEPA is gearing up for significant reforms to apprenticeship assessment, following the Department for Education’s (DfE) release of new assessment principles in February 2025. The changes, designed to streamline the process, aim to make assessments more proportionate, remove duplication, and increase flexibility in delivery.

The DfE’s new principles include:

• Making assessment proportionate to the competency being tested.
• Avoiding duplication by not re-assessing elements already covered in mandated qualifications or licences to practise.
• Allowing certain assessments to take place during the training programme where appropriate.
• Permitting training providers to deliver parts of the assessment, with Ofqual proposing that a significant proportion will still be undertaken by the awarding organisation (EpAO).

Over the next 18 months, Skills England will work with employers to rewrite all assessment plans in line with these principles.

While the level of flexibility for EngEPA’s apprenticeship standards is yet to be confirmed, our team is actively modelling scenarios and designing delivery mechanisms to ensure a smooth transition to the new approach.

What This Means for Our Customers

• Business as usual for now – Current end-point assessment arrangements remain in place until the formal transition date is confirmed. We will communicate timelines and requirements as soon as they are available.
• Policy and systems development – We are updating our internal policies, procedures, and systems to ensure compliance with Ofqual requirements under the new framework.
• Terminology changes – Once the new plans are introduced, “end-point assessment” will become “apprenticeship assessment”, and “end-point assessment organisation” will change to “awarding organisation” or “assessment organisation”. These changes will not affect our service or recognition.
• Gateway process update – The “gateway” will become the “gateway to completion”. In some cases, assessment plans may allow elements to be assessed before this point, though final assessments will still follow completion of the minimum duration.
• Training provider involvement – If permitted to assess certain components, training providers will be supported through contracting, training, and external quality assurance processes.
• Behaviours assessment change – Under the new model, employers will confirm that apprentices demonstrate the required behaviours, with EngEPA ensuring this process meets regulatory standards.

EngEPA will continue to share updates as more details emerge from Skills England, the DfE, and Ofqual. Our commitment remains to deliver high-quality, compliant apprenticeship assessments—whatever the future model.