Apprenticeship Reforms
Everything we know so far about the changes to End-Point Assessment.
Purpose of the Reforms:
In February 2025, the Government announced the improvements to apprenticeship assessment and has published a new set of assessment principles.
The assessment process is being streamlined to enable more design and delivery flexibility so that:
- assessments are more proportionate to the competency being tested and removes any duplication
- assessment plans can be designed to allow assessments to take place on the programme
- training providers will be able to deliver elements of the assessment, End-Point Assessment Organisations (EPAOs) will continue to shape the assessment and ensure the validity of outcomes
These changes will apply to all apprenticeships, at all levels.
Key Apprenticeship Reform Changes:
Terminology Changes
- End-point Assessment (EPA) replaced by Apprenticeship Assessment
- End-point Assessment Organisations (EPAOs) renamed Assessment Organisations (AOs).
Assessments may occur during the programme, not solely at the end.
Flexibility in assessment delivery:
- Training providers may deliver and mark certain assessment components
- AOs retain responsibility for ensuring validity and robustness of outcomes.
Streamlined assessment plans:
- Reduced from 30–40 pages to 3–4 pages, with clearer priorities and reduced duplication.
Sampling approach:
- Only selected Knowledge and Skills statements require mandatory assessment, with others sampled as appropriate.
Behaviours:
- Employer verification of behaviours.
Implementation Timeline:
Sector Priorities and Early Standards:
The first 93 standards identified across 10 sectors have been identified for early reform.
Construction reforms on hold pending outcomes of a “dedicated taskforce”.
Implications for Energy & Environment Awards:
- AOs must prepare for leaner assessment plans and increased provider involvement.
- Quality assurance processes must adapt to sampling and varied independence requirements.
- AOs should monitor DfE and Skills England updates closely as changes accelerate throughout 2026.
Implications for Training Providers:
Apprenticeship Assessment Qualifications are permitted to have elements that are assessed by centres. This will require centres to have approved assessors and internal quality assurance process in place.
Different awarding organisations may choose different approaches to assessment, so providers must carefully check the specifications to see what is on offer.
Energy & Environment Awards End-point Assessments under review by Skills England:
- Electrical power networks engineer
- Electrical power protection and plant commissioning engineer
- Engineering operative
- Gas network craftsperson
- Gas network Operative
- Lead engineering maintenance technician
- Water treatment technician
- Wind turbine maintenance technician (New apprenticeship standard, to replace the Wind Turbine pathway of MOET)
When these reviews are completed, they will be published on the Skills England website, and we will also keep this webpage updated.
Contact Us
If you still have any questions about the apprenticeship reform and what it means for end-point assessments, please get in touch.
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