Standard
Code
STO594 v1.2
Maximum Funding
£4000
Typical
Duration
12 months
Level
2
Standard
EPA Price*
£800
EQA Provider
Ofqual
End-Point Assessment Requirements
English and maths
Effective from 11 February 2025, the government has removed the mandatory English and maths functional skills requirement for apprentices aged 19 and above who start their apprenticeship training. This change includes apprentices who are currently on the programme.
The new ruling applies to apprentices on programme and all apprentices starting their programmes from February 2025.
Employers and apprentices must agree by 1st April 2025 whether apprentices aged 19 and above on programme will continue studying English and maths.
- Providers must record the decision in the training plan.
- Apprentices must continue their studies until an agreement is made.
It is worth noting that whilst the mandatory requirement for English and Maths has been removed, apprentices and employers can still choose to receive English and Maths training and participate in the associated tests.
For apprentices under the age of 19 at programme commencement, there is still a requirement to undertake Maths and English training and take functional skills tests.
Knowledge Test
- The test will comprise of 20 multiple choice questions.
- Apprentices will have 40 minutes to complete the test.
- The test is closed book (apprentices cannot refer to reference books/materials).
- Set and marked by the end-point assessment organisation.
- The test is graded fail, pass or distinction.
- Undertaken either off-site using remote assessment where appropriate, or on the employer’s premises.
Competence Scenario (Observation)
- This assessment will be a practical observation of an activity where suitable, or via a simulated scenario where it is not due to the highly sensitive nature of the role.
- The observation/simulation must last for 75 minutes (+/- 10% at the independent assessor’s discretion).
- The observation/simulation will focus on a particular activity and will test behavioural, analytical, and decision-making skills in a realistic setting.
- Simulations must succeed in recreating the atmosphere, conditions, and pressures of the real situation.
- The independent assessor will select a scenario from a bank of scenarios generated by PAL.
- The competence scenario has fail or pass grades. There is no distinction grade for this method of assessment.
Professional Discussion underpinned by a Portfolio of Evidence
- The independent assessor will review the portfolio and use it to select 3 pieces of evidence which they will require the apprentice to discuss.
- The professional discussion must last for 60 minutes (+/- 10% at the independent assessor’s discretion) and the apprentice will be asked a minimum of 10 questions.
- The portfolio of evidence must be present during the discussion and apprentices will be expected to draw on its contents.
- The professional discussion as fail, pass and distinction grades.
- Webinar or video conferencing software can be used for this method of assessment.
Available Resources
- Training provider resource library
- EPA Specification (click to view)
- PAL Guide – Making the Apprenticeship Journey Successful (click to view)
Previous Version of the Assessment Plan
How to engage with PAL.
Engaging with PAL couldn’t be easier. Simply contact us at info@professionalassessment.co.uk or on 0800 1601899. Our senior team will contact you to find out about your requirements in more detail and discuss how we might need to adapt our approach to meet your needs. Once you are happy that PAL is the right fit for your programme, we set up your account, share our library of resources and support you to register your apprentices. You can then rest assured that you have a dedicated team on hand to guide you through your EPA journey and provide a responsive service when your apprentices are ready to be assessed.