Standard
Code
ST0384 v1.4
Maximum Funding
£5000
Typical
Duration
15 months
Level
3
Standard
EPA Price*
£800
External Quality Assurance Body
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.
Presentation with Questions
In the presentation with questions, the apprentice delivers a presentation to an independent assessor on a set subject. The independent assessor must ask questions after the presentation. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method.
- The apprentice will be given their presentation topic post Gateway by PAL.
- The apprentice must submit any presentation materials to PAL by the end of week 4 of the EPA period.
- The presentation and questions must last for 50 minutes, typically 20 minutes for the presentation and 30 minutes for the questions (+10% at the independent assessor’s discretion).
- The apprentice will be asked at least 5 questions.
- Webinar or video conferencing software can be used for the assessment.
- This method of assessment has fail, pass and distinction grades.
Professional Discussion Underpinned by a Portfolio of Evidence
In the professional discussion, an independent assessor and apprentice have a formal two-way conversation. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method.
- The underpinning portfolio of evidence is completed during the on-programme period of the apprenticeship and must be submitted to PAL at Gateway.
- The independent assessor will review the portfolio of evidence and use it to identify areas for the professional discussion – it is not directly assessed.
- The professional discussion must last for 60 minutes (+10% at the independent assessor’s discretion).
- The apprentice will be asked at least 5 questions.
- Webinar or video conferencing software can be used for the assessment.
- This method of assessment has fail, pass and distinction grades.
Available Resources
- Training provider resource library
- EPA Specification (click to view)
- PAL Guide – Making the Apprenticeship Journey Successful (click to view)
Previous Version
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.