Changes to Apprenticeship Assessment

In 2024, the Department for Education undertook a comprehensive review of End-Point Assessment in Apprenticeships. The department worked with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (the precursor to Skills England), Ofqual, the Office for Students (OfS) and sector stakeholders.

The review found that apprenticeships continue to deliver strong outcomes and enjoy high levels of satisfaction. This is no surprise to training providers who work with employers and learners on a daily basis. At Intec, we seek regular feedback from our customer base who report high levels of satisfaction, with more than 97% reporting a positive and impactful learning experience.   

However, feedback from the DFE’s sector wide apprenticeship assessment review identified that the EPA process can be overly complex, burdensome, and time-consuming. In the coming year it is proposed that the assessment process will be streamlined to create greater flexibility. This is likely to involve making assessment more proportionate and removing duplication including:

• Assessment taking place throughout the apprenticeship, with the potential for the training providers to undertake elements of assessment.
• All assessment plans will be reviewed and re-drafted by August 2026 in less prescriptive detailing skills and knowledge.
• The demonstration of behaviours by the apprentice as defined in each Standard to be verified by the employer.
• Assessment details will be determined by the Assessment Organisation.

Further detail will emerge in 2026, with Skills England expected to release further information soon.

There have already been some changes to terminology designed to reflect the pending reforms including:

• Gateway being replaced by ‘gateway to completion’
• End Point Assessment being replaced by ‘apprenticeship assessment’
• End Point Assessment Organisations will be known as ‘Apprenticeship Assessment Organisations’

Intec believe a positive experience at gateway to completion is critical in helping learners secure their highest possible outcome. Intec have developed an experience that sees the learners undergo a mock assessment with an independent assessor, directly mirroring the live apprenticeship assessment process. Learners then receive detailed feedback enabling them to achieve their highest possible outcome. This is part of our service that we’re proud of, and we’ve made a strong start to the 2025 funding year with more than 85% of our first cohort of Team Leader apprentices achieving a Distinction.