Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to allow teacher assessed grades for apprenticeships.

End Point Assessment (EPA) is a key element of our reforms to enhance the quality of apprenticeships, ensuring apprentices are able to evidence they are occupationally competent via an independent assessment. The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education has introduced flexibilities for EPAs, including remote assessment where practicable, 12 week extensions to the time limit for completion, and relaxation of the order in which elements of the EPA can be taken, in order to mitigate the effects of disruption caused by COVID-19 to EPAs.

Following the introduction of National Restrictions on 6 January, EPAs should now take place remotely wherever possible and all EPA flexibilities will be extended until at least 31 August. EPAs contain a range of assessment methods, many of which can continue safely, subject to the apprentice having completed all of their learning and being ready for assessment.

Assessments can continue in colleges, training providers’ premises, assessment venues and workplaces where they cannot be conducted remotely and where providers and assessment organisations judge it right and safe to do so. Further information is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/950845/Apprenticeship_response_to_COVID-19_FINAL.pdf#page=28&zoom=100,69,640.

We continue to review the flexibilities in place to ensure high-quality assessment can continue allowing apprentices to undertake their assessments despite current operating constraints. Our intention is to safeguard the quality of apprenticeships, and EPAs are an integral part of that.