Major Reforms to Apprenticeship Assessment
What You Need to Know
The apprenticeship sector is on the cusp of significant reform. The Department for Education (DfE), alongside Skills England and the Department for Work and Pensions, is reshaping how apprenticeship assessment works, moving away from the current End-point Assessment (EPA) model toward a more flexible and proportionate system called ‘Apprenticeship Assessment’.
These changes are not just a rebrand. They represent a fundamental shift in how apprentices are assessed, aiming to:
- Reduce unnecessary duplication in assessment,
- Enable on-programme and centre-based assessment where appropriate,
- Streamline assessment plans to be shorter, clearer, and more focused,
- And increase accessibility and relevance for both employers and learners.
Assessment plans will now fall into three distinct categories. These reforms are designed to make apprenticeship delivery more agile, inclusive, and aligned with real-world occupational needs.
With general guidance from Skills England and a companion document from the DfE expected later this autumn, the sector is preparing for a new era of apprenticeship delivery.
These documents will clarify implementation, funding, and regulatory expectations, especially as Ofqual progresses its new regulatory framework, with further consultation due in late 2025.
DfE Principles and Planned Changes
The Department for Education, Skills England and the Department for Work and Pensions aim to make assessment more proportionate, remove unnecessary duplication, and allow for on-programme and centre-based assessment where appropriate.
Assessment plans are expected to be shorter and more focused, with fewer assessment methods, enabling greater use of technology.
The changes intend to make apprenticeships more accessible and meaningful for employers and learners.
Assessment plans will fall into three categories:
- Low-prescription plan with one mandatory assessment method specified and optional approved assessment methods
- Mandatory qualification only with no requirement for further assessment
- Risk-based additional prescription for high-risk occupations or where regulation demands additional prescription, e.g. for safety purposes
New assessment plans trialled against five standards are set to be released with general guidance from Skills England towards the end of October.
The five standards are: Assistant Accountant, Adult Care Worker, Data Technician, Early Years Educator, and Carpentry and Joinery.
At the same time, the companion document from DfE is expected to be released and should be read alongside the funding. The companion document intends to help providers, employers, and assessment organisations understand the key changes to aid implementation of the changes. These two pieces of the puzzle should give clarity and direction. However, there are still things we can do in the interim.
Philippa Farrell, Director of Awarding at Gateway Qualifications, emphasised the importance of robust processes to ensure fairness and consistency, stating:
“It will be a regulatory requirement for us to develop a documented assessment strategy for each standard or a comparable group of standards. We already have these in place for other qualifications. It gives the rationale as to what we are assessing, how we are assessing, how the content will be covered, what the quality assurance arrangements will be, our approach to standard setting and awarding, what are the risks to the delivery of that qualification or that standard. So the assessment strategies are our basis for our processes and our requirements, our control mechanism to ensure consistency and fairness for the delivery of that standard.”
Regulatory Developments
Ofqual has recently consulted on a new regulatory framework for apprenticeship assessment, with further technical consultation expected in Autumn 2025 and new regulations expected in Spring 2026.
Risks and Opportunities
Attendees of the webinar identified both risks and opportunities in the proposed changes. Key concerns included maintaining consistency and quality, managing communication, and ensuring robust quality assurance. However, panellists also saw opportunities for greater collaboration, flexibility, and more inclusive assessment practices.
Practical Advice
The panel advised providers to:
- Engage with your awarding organisations about upcoming changes
- Review staffing, costs, and systems in preparation for new assessment models
- Monitor forthcoming guidance and test standards
Next Steps
Collaboration across the sector is essential, and the apprentice must remain at the heart of all changes. We are committed to supporting providers, employers, and learners through clear communication and practical guidance.
We will continue to update stakeholders as more information becomes available.
Stay informed
