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End Point Assessment (EPA)

Intro

End Point Assessment (EPA)

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All apprenticeship standards involve an EPA which determines whether apprentices have passed the apprenticeship.

The University, as an apprenticeship provider and EPAO, designs and delivers on-programme learning and assessment that facilitates and measures the apprentice’s achievement of knowledge, skills and behaviours as outlined in the apprenticeship standard. EPA must be administered by an independent assessor from an approved EPAO.

Find out more about degree apprenticeships

Independent assessors

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UWL appoints independent assessors to undertake EPA for each apprenticeship. Independent assessors can be current UWL staff or employed by another institution but must not be involved in any aspects of the delivery of the Apprenticeship.

UWL has robust conflict of interest regulations that must be adhered to and which are detailed in the "higher and degree apprenticeship EPA" section of the Academic Quality and Standards handbook.

Roles and responsibilities

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Although the functions of an independent assessor vary depending on the End Point Assessment, the roles and responsibilities include: 

  • Carrying out the EPA as set out in the EPA plan for the degree apprenticeship standard. This involves ensuring national comparability of academic standards, that the assessment processes are reliable, fair and transparent, and operate in line with:   
    • University regulations, policies and procedures
    • QAA UK Quality Code for Higher Education
    • Characteristic Statement for Apprenticeships
    • Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education rules and regulations
    • Relevant Apprenticeship Standard and EPA Plan
    • Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirements (where applicable)
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  • Tasks involved in carrying out the EPA, which may include: 
    • Invigilating, assessing and grading the assessment activities according to the EPA Plan
    • Chairing the presentation panel (where applicable)
    • Observing the apprentice in practice (where applicable)
    • Determining the final apprenticeship grade
  • Participating in annual assessment training and assessment standardisation events
  • Annually submitting a record of CPD activity to AQSO within the agreed timescale
  • Annually submitting a conflict of interest declaration within the agreed timescale
  • Annually submitting an annual report within University timescales
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Depending on the requirements of a particular subject or course, independent assessors may be called upon to undertake additional reasonable duties relating to the broad scope of your engagement as an independent assessor, for example:

  • Creating assessment tools (such as tests, banks of questions and case study scenarios, controlled observation checklists and professional discussion specifications)

Induction and standardisation training

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Induction

As an independent assessor, you are required to attend an induction day following your appointment by the University. The End Point Assessment Department (EPAD) organise several induction days throughout the year. If you are unable to attend any of the induction days, alternative arrangements can be made. This section covers most of the information that is included in the induction day. The induction days cover the following areas:

  • Introduction to the University
  • Your role as an independent assessor
  • The operation of end point assessments and your participation in these
  • Claiming fees and expenses

The induction also allows the opportunity to network with other Independent Assessors and meet with your School/College academic contact over lunch. To obtain further details and/or book yourself on to an induction day please contact epa@uwl.ac.uk.

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Standardisation training

As an independent assessor, you are also required to attend a standardisation training day following your appointment by the University. The End Point Assessment Department organise one standardisation training day throughout every year. This training is designed for all independent assessors to understand and follow the UWL processes and procedures expected from independent assessors.

Fees and expenses

Your fee is agreed annually and is detailed in your annual agreement. If you are asked to undertake additional duties for which an additional fee is agreed in advance these should be claimed online as and when incurred.

You are required to complete a claim for fees annually and expenses as and when incurred. Claims for expenses must be made promptly; where expenditure is claimed that was incurred more than three months before the claim was submitted, payment will not be made. All fee claims and expenses must be made via the expenses and fee claim form. This can be obtained from EPAD.

Fees are paid monthly directly into your bank or building society account on the 25th of each month or the nearest working day before. In order to guarantee payment in the current month, all claims must be authorised by the 10th of the month.

FAQs

  • What is End Point Assessment?

    End Point Assessment is a synoptic assessment that only occurs at the end of an apprenticeship. An apprentice must undergo the EPA before completing their apprenticeship.

  • What is the purpose of End Point Assessment?

    The EPA confirms whether or not the apprentice is competent to work within their role. In conjunction with this, it’s also the EPA that determines what ‘grade’ the apprentice achieves on their apprenticeship (providing they pass). 

  • Can an independent assessor (IA) assess other parts of an apprenticeship?

    Not for the same apprentice that they are the carrying out the End Point Assessment on, no. The assessor who is responsible for delivering an End Point Assessment must be completely independent. These assessors are often referred to as Independent End Point Assessors (IEPAs) for exactly that reason.

  • What does an End Point Assessment involve?

    Every apprenticeship has it’s own End Point Assessment. So inevitably, almost every course is different. But generally speaking, EPAs involve two or three one-off assessments, each requiring the use of a different assessment method.

  • What do I need to become an Independent End Point Assessor?

    Just like what the EPA involves changes with each apprenticeship, as does the requirements for the IAs. More often than not, most End Point Assessments require the assessor responsible for delivery to:

    • hold a recognised assessor qualification
    • have extensive and current experience in the respective occupation
    • have a thorough understanding of the apprenticeship standard the EPA is based on

    However, the requirements do vary. The End Point Assessment Department (EPAD) will be able to confirm these requirements and these are checked as part of the application process.

  • Where can I find information on specific End Point Assessments?

    You can find the answers to all of your questions about specific EPAs in the 'assessment plan' for the respective apprenticeship. It’s important to know that since the apprenticeship reform, every single apprenticeship now has two documents: an ‘apprenticeship standard’ and an ‘assessment plan’. Please contact the EPAD for further information.

  • What is an assessment plan?

    In the context of EPA, the assessment plan is the document that informs the relevant End Point Assessment Organisations on everything they need to know about the EPA for a particular apprenticeship. 

  • Who are End Point Assessment Organisations?

    EPAOs are organisations that have been approved by the government to offer End Point Assessments in specific apprenticeships. Currently, the majority of EPAOs are either Awarding Organisations, Training Providers or Professional Bodies.

  • When will I assess the apprentices?

    You will only assess apprentices during their End Point Assessments and have no interaction with apprentices until they have reached Gateway. 

    If required, you will assess apprentices via observations and assignments which can be viewed through Blackboard (this will depend on your apprenticeship standards assessment plan).

  • Where can I find information on Blackboard?

    Please refer to the Blackboard pages. 

  • My personal details have changed, who should I notify?

    Please contact EPAD on epa@uwl.ac.uk

  • What apprenticeship course am I responsible for?

    Details of the course/subject area are contained initially in your contract and updated annually in your annual agreement.

  • Do I complete any reports?

    Independent assessors will be expected to complete one annual report at the end of the academic year. The EPAD will send out the template and further information on submission and deadlines.

  • Will I have to undertake further training?

    As an independent assessor you will attend a mandatory induction training day. You will also be required to undertake standardisation training once every year throughout your appointment with the University of West London.

    If required, UWL can support independent assessors with gaining further assessor qualifications.

Contact us

For further information on End Point Assessment, please contact epa@uwl.ac.uk.

If you are unable to access any of the documents on this page, or any of the sub-pages, or you would like to access a document in an alternative format, please contact quality@uwl.ac.uk.

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