Are workplace assessors ready for apprenticeship assessment reform?

Changes to apprenticeship assessment in England are beginning to move from policy into practice. The reformed approach will allow assessment to take place at appropriate points throughout an apprenticeship, rather than relying solely on a separate assessment at the end.

This should create a more flexible and proportionate assessment system, but it will also place greater emphasis on assessment undertaken within the workplace.

Under the reformed arrangements, awarding organisations will continue to design and oversee apprenticeship assessments. However, employers and training providers may be responsible for delivering or marking some assessment activities where this is permitted by the relevant apprenticeship assessment plan.

Employers may also be asked to verify that apprentices have consistently demonstrated the behaviours required for their occupation.

This means workplace supervisors, trainers and assessors must understand:

• what evidence is required;
• how competence should be observed and recorded;
• how to make fair and consistent assessment decisions;
• the distinction between supporting learning and assessing achievement;
• how apprentice behaviours should be verified; and
• when potential conflicts of interest must be identified and managed.

Verification should involve more than simply signing a form. Decisions must be based on appropriate workplace evidence gathered over time and must be sufficiently clear to withstand internal and external scrutiny.

As assessment becomes more integrated into the apprenticeship journey, internal quality assurance must also extend across the whole process.

Training providers and awarding organisations will need to consider how they:

• approve and support workplace assessors;
• standardise workplace assessment decisions;
• sample workplace assessment undertaken at different stages;
• check the authenticity and sufficiency of evidence;
• maintain reliable assessment records; and
• identify and address inconsistent practice.

Digital systems such as SwiftTrack can support this process by providing a clear audit trail of assessment activities, evidence, feedback, verification and quality-assurance decisions.

Organisations should begin by reviewing which employees may be expected to observe performance, confirm behaviours or make assessment decisions under the reformed arrangements. They can then determine whether those individuals have the knowledge, skills and confidence required for their role. Depending on their responsibilities, they may need a short briefing, structured assessor training or a recognised assessor qualification.

The reforms provide an opportunity to make apprenticeship assessment more closely reflect how occupational competence develops in the workplace. However, this will depend on employers, training providers and awarding organisations investing in the people responsible for making those decisions.

RI Training provides assessor and internal quality assurance training, recognised qualifications and consultancy support. We can also help organisations review their assessment systems and prepare workplace assessors and IQAs for the changing apprenticeship environment.

To discuss your organisation’s assessor or quality-assurance requirements, please contact RI Training.