Pastry chef

This document explains the requirements for end-point assessment (EPA) for the pastry chef apprenticeship. End-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) must follow this when designing and delivering the EPA.

Pastry chef apprentices, their employers and training providers should read this document.

A full-time pastry chef apprentice typically spends 18 months on-programme. The apprentice must spend at least 12 months on-programme and complete the required amount of off-the-job training in line with the apprenticeship funding rules.

The EPA should be completed within an EPA period lasting typically 4 months.

The apprentice must complete their training and meet the gateway requirements before starting their EPA. The EPA will assess occupational competence.

An approved EPAO must conduct the EPA for this apprenticeship. Employers must select an approved EPAO from the apprenticeship provider and assessment register (APAR).

This EPA has 3 assessment methods.

The grades available for each assessment method are below.

Assessment method 1 - simulated practical with questions:

• fail

• pass

• distinction

Assessment method 2 - knowledge test:

• fail

• pass

Assessment method 3 - professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence:

• fail

• pass

• distinction

The result from each assessment method is combined to decide the overall apprenticeship grade. The following grades are available for the apprenticeship:

• fail

• pass

• merit

• distinction

The EPA is taken in the EPA period. The EPA period starts when the EPAO confirms the gateway requirements have been met and is typically 4 months.

The EPAO should confirm the gateway requirements have been met and start the EPA as quickly as possible.

The apprentice’s employer must be content that the apprentice has attained sufficient KSBs to complete the apprenticeship. The employer may take advice from the apprentice's training provider, but the employer must make the decision. The apprentice will then enter the gateway.

The apprentice must meet the gateway requirements before starting their EPA.

They must:

• confirm they are ready to take the EPA
• have achieved English and mathematics qualifications in line with the apprenticeship funding rules

• submit a portfolio of evidence for the professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence

Portfolio of evidence requirements:

The apprentice must compile a portfolio of evidence during the on-programme period of the apprenticeship. It should only contain evidence related to the KSBs that will be assessed by this assessment method.

It will typically contain 16 discrete pieces of evidence. Evidence must be mapped against the KSBs. Evidence may be used to demonstrate more than one KSB; a qualitative as opposed to quantitative approach is suggested.

As the apprentice, their employer and training provider will be unaware of the exact nature of the questions that form the basis of the professional discussion in advance of that assessment it is vital that apprentices are proficient in all relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours listed within the occupational standard.

In addition to evidence related to all KSBs mapped to the professional discussion, apprentices must include evidence of a range of finished pastry products. Apprentices should have knowledge and skills across a full range of products. The evidence for the portfolio should include, as a minimum, the following:

Dough. Provide evidence of 1 finished product from each of the following categories:

• hand-shaped, fermented
• enriched, laminated
• non-fermented

Paste. Provide evidence of 1 complete finished product using paste from each of the following categories. At least 1 finished product must be savoury and 1 finished product must be sweet:

• choux
• short or brise
• inverse or classic puff
• sable

Fruit. Provide evidence of 1 finished product that incorporates fruit as the main element from each of the following lists:

• Poached, roasted, baked, or confit
• Conserve, compote, filling, or curd

Decorative display work. Provide evidence of 1 small decorative display piece from the list below:

• sugar, chocolate, nougatine, pastillage, or a combination.

Evidence sources may include:

• workplace documentation and records, for example:
• workplace policies and procedures
• witness statements
• annotated photographs
• video clips (maximum total duration 20 minutes); the apprentice must be in view and identifiable

This is not a definitive list; other evidence sources can be included.

The portfolio of evidence should not include reflective accounts or any methods of self-assessment. Any employer contributions should focus on direct observation of performance (for example, witness statements) rather than opinions. The evidence provided should be valid and attributable to the apprentice; the portfolio of evidence should contain a statement from the employer and apprentice confirming this.

The EPAO should not assess the portfolio of evidence directly as it underpins the discussion. The independent assessor should review the portfolio of evidence to prepare questions for the discussion. They are not required to provide feedback after this review.

The apprentice must submit the gateway evidence to their EPAO, including any organisation specific policies and procedures requested by the EPAO.

The assessment methods can be delivered in any order.

The result of one assessment method does not need to be known before starting the next.

Overview

In a simulated practical assessment with questions, an independent assessor observes the apprentice completing a task or series of tasks set by the EPAO. The EPAO decides where the simulated practical takes place. The assessment environment must closely relate to the apprentice’s natural working environment. The simulated practical will assess a subset of the methods, techniques and products listed in the KSBs. The simulated practical gives the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method, via the creation of a subset of pastry products, based on an assessment brief created by the EPAO.

As the apprentice, their employer and training provider will be unaware of the exact nature of the tasks required for the simulated practical assessment prior to receiving the brief it is vital that the apprentice is proficient in all relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours listed within the occupational standard.

Rationale

This assessment method is being used because:

• it allows for a range of tasks to be observed that may not be achieved through an observation in the workplace in the timescales allowed
• this is a practical occupation, best demonstrated through completing tasks in a realistic work setting
• it allows for consistency of activities to be completed and efficiency of scheduling
• questioning allows for the testing of related underpinning knowledge and or skills and behaviours where an opportunity to observe them has not occurred
• it allows for assessment at the correct level of challenge to judge occupational competence

Delivery

The simulated practical with questions must be structured to give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method to the highest available grade.

An independent assessor must conduct and assess the simulated practical with questions.

The independent assessor must only observe a maximum of five apprentices at a time to ensure quality and rigour. They must be as unobtrusive as possible.

The EPAO must give an apprentice 15 days' notice of the . simulated practical with questionsThe assessment brief must be shared with the candidate, provider and employer 15 working days prior to the EPA.

For the simulated practical with questions 5 hours must be made available.

The independent assessor can increase the time of the simulated practical with questions by up to 10%. This time is to allow the apprentice to complete a task or respond to a question if necessary.

The simulated practical with questions cannot be split, other than for comfort breaks or to allow apprentices to move from one location to another. Where breaks occur, they will not count towards the total EPA time.

The EPAO must manage invigilation of the apprentice during the assessment, to maintain security of the EPA, in line with their malpractice policy. This includes breaks and moving between locations.

The independent assessor must explain to the apprentice the format and timescales of the simulated practical with questions before it starts. This does not count towards the assessment time.

The independent assessor must observe the following during the practical assessment:

• Interpretation of specification and requirements for presentation, holding, and service or transportation
• Preparation of mise en place
• Delivery of briefing on tasks to be undertaken to achieve expected results
• Checking of quality of ingredients
• Production of
  • refined, filled, constructed and finished patisserie product or a plated dessert
  • biscuit or sponge product
  • confectionery or chocolate product.
• Identification and resolution of errors (if no errors occur, questions can be asked about errors that could have occurred)

It is not expected that apprentices will present, hold, serve or transport their completed product during the simulated practical, but they must have taken into consideration the information about presentation, holding, and serving or transporting provided in the brief in their decisions about their approach to producing their product.

These activities provide the apprentice with the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method.

The independent assessor must ask questions.

The purpose of the questions is to clarify further, any elements of a KSB, so as to allow the candidate to demonstrate their full comprehension of the theme being performed..

Questioning must occur during the practical assessment. The time for questioning is included in the overall assessment time.

The independent assessor must ask at least 5 questions during the practical assessment. To remain as unobtrusive as possible, the independent assessor should ask questions during natural breaks in work rather than disrupting the apprentice’s flow. The independent assessor must use the questions from their EPAO’s question bank or create their own questions in line with the EPAO’s training.

The independent assessor can ask follow-up questions to clarify answers given by the apprentice. These questions are in addition to the above set number of questions for the simulated practical with questions.

The independent assessor must make the grading decision. The independent assessor must assess the practical assessment and responses to questions holistically when deciding the grade.

The independent assessor must keep accurate records of the assessment. They must record:

• the KSBs observed
• the apprentice’s answers to questions
• KSBs demonstrated in answers to questions
• the grade achieved

Assessment location

The simulated practical with questions must take place in a simulated environment selected by the EPAO for example, the EPAO’s or employer’s premises. The simulated environment must relate to the apprentice’s natural work environment. Equipment and resources needed for the simulated practical with questions must be provided by the EPAO, who can liaise with the employer to provide these.

Question, brief and resource development

The EPAO must develop a purpose-built assessment specification and question bank. It is recommended this is done in consultation with employers of this occupation. The EPAO must maintain the security and confidentiality of EPA materials when consulting with employers. The assessment specification and question bank must be reviewed at least once a year to ensure they remain fit-for-purpose.

The assessment specification must be relevant to the occupation and demonstrate how to assess the KSBs mapped to this assessment method. The EPAO must ensure that questions are refined and developed to a high standard. The questions must be unpredictable. A question bank of sufficient size will support this. 

The EPAO must develop a purpose-built set of simulated practical briefs. These must include the following:

These must include the following:

1. Which product will be produced from each of the following categories:

• Confectionery or chocolate (for example, 500g caramel mou or 6 moulded bon bons)
• Biscuit or sponge (for example, 12 hollandaise biscuits or 1 whisked whole egg sponge to serve 8)
• Filled, constructed patisserie product or a plated dessert (for example, 1 individual black forest gateaux or 1 hot or cold and or frozen dessert)

2. The quantity or how many servings where appropriate.

3. The brief must indicate how 1 of the 3 products should be presented, held, and served or transported, for example the biscuits will be packaged for postage or the black forest gateaux will be on a buffet for 1 hour.

4. The brief must indicate that the apprentice is expected to work to recipes that are sourced in their place of employment or recipes they have sourced themselves, although the origin of these must be stated.

5. The expectation that during the assessment the apprentice will brief the independent assessor on the tasks to be undertaken to achieve expected results.

The EPAO must ensure that the apprentice has a different set of tasks and questions in the case of re-sits and retakes, to minimise predictability.

The EPAO must produce the following materials to support the simulated practical with questions:

• independent assessor assessment materials which include:
  • training materials
  • administration materials
  • moderation and standardisation materials
  • guidance materials
  • grading guidance
  • question bank
• EPA guidance for the apprentice and the employer

The EPAO must ensure that the EPA materials are subject to quality assurance procedures including standardisation and moderation.

Overview

In the knowledge test, the apprentice answers questions in a controlled and invigilated environment. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge mapped to this assessment method.

Rationale

This assessment method is being used because.

• It allows accurate testing of the apprentice's underpinning knowledge that may not be successfully assessed using other assessment methods.
• it allows for flexibility in terms of when, where, and how it is taken
• it allows larger volumes of apprentices to be assessed at one time

Delivery

The knowledge test must be structured to give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge mapped to this assessment method to the highest available grade.

The test will consist of 30 multiple-choice questions.

Multiple-choice questions must have four options, including one correct answer.

The apprentice must be given at least 2 weeks’ notice of the date and time of the test.

Test administration

The apprentice must have 60 minutes to complete the test.

The test is closed book which means that the apprentice cannot refer to reference books or materials whilst taking the test.

The test must be taken in the presence of an invigilator who is the responsibility of the EPAO. The EPAO must have an invigilation policy setting out how the test must be conducted. It must state the ratio of apprentices to invigilators for the setting and allow the test to take place in a secure way.

The EPAO must verify the apprentice’s identity and ensure invigilation of the apprentice for example, with 360-degree cameras and screen sharing facilities.

The EPAO is responsible for the security of the test including the arrangements for on-line testing. The EPAO must ensure that their security arrangements maintain the validity and reliability of the test.

Marking

The test must be marked by an independent assessor or marker employed by the EPAO. They must follow a marking scheme produced by the EPAO. Marking by computer is allowed where question types support this.

A correct answer gets 1 mark.

Any incorrect or missing answers get zero marks.

The EPAO is responsible for overseeing the marking of the test.

Assessment location

The apprentice must take the test in a suitably controlled and invigilated environment that is a quiet room, free from distractions and influence. The EPAO must check the venue is suitable.

The test can take place remotely if the appropriate technology and systems are in place to prevent malpractice.

Question and resource development

The EPAO must develop a purpose-built assessment specification and question bank. It is recommended this is done in consultation with employers of this occupation. The EPAO should maintain the security and confidentiality of EPA materials when consulting with employers. The assessment specification and question bank must be reviewed at least once a year to ensure they remain fit-for-purpose.    

The assessment specification must be relevant to the occupation and demonstrate how to assess the KSBs mapped to this assessment method. The EPAO must ensure that questions are refined and developed to a high standard. The questions must be unpredictable. A question bank of sufficient size will support this.  

The EPAO must ensure that the apprentice has a different set of questions in the case of re-sits or re-takes.

The EPAO must produce the following materials to support the test:

• assessment materials for independent assessors and markers which includes:
  
  • training materials
  • administration materials
  • moderation and standardisation materials
  • guidance materials
  • grading guidance
  • test specification
  • sample test and mark schemes
  • live tests and mark schemes
  • question bank
• EPA guidance for the apprentice and the employer

The EPAO must ensure that the EPA materials are subject to quality assurance procedures including standardisation and moderation.

Overview

In the professional discussion, an independent assessor and apprentice have a formal two-way conversation. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method.

The apprentice can refer to and illustrate their answers with evidence from their portfolio of evidence.

The professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence will assess a subset of the methods, techniques and products listed in the relevant KSBs.

Rationale

This assessment method is being used because:

• it allows for assessment of KSBs that may not occur during the practical assessment via a structured professional discussion
• it allows for testing of responses where there is a range of potential answers
• it facilitates assessment of knowledge and skills that cannot be covered in a simulated practical.

Delivery

The professional discussion must be structured to give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method to the highest available grade.

An independent assessor must conduct and assess the professional discussion.

The following themes will be covered in the professional discussion.

• Creating refined, finished products, including dough, fruit, and paste products
• Creating small decorative display pieces
• Reformulating recipes to produce plant based, gluten free or allergen free alternatives
• Planning for demand and proactively managing risk
• Stock control, purchasing and sustainability
• Improving and developing products and self

The EPAO must give an apprentice 2 weeks' notice of the professional discussion.

The independent assessor must have at least 2 weeks to review the supporting documentation.

The apprentice must have access to their portfolio of evidence during the professional discussion.

The apprentice can refer to and illustrate their answers with evidence from their portfolio of evidence however, the portfolio of evidence is not directly assessed.

The professional discussion must last for 90 minutes. The independent assessor can increase the time of the professional discussion by up to 10%. This time is to allow the apprentice to respond to a question if necessary.

The independent assessor must ask at least 16 questions. The independent assessor must use the questions from the EPAO’s question bank.

The independent assessor must make the grading decision.

The independent assessor must keep accurate records of the assessment. They must record:

• the apprentice’s answers to questions
• the KSBs demonstrated in answers to questions
• the grade achieved 

Assessment location

The professional discussion must take place in a suitable venue selected by the EPAO for example, the EPAO’s or employer’s premises.

The professional discussion can be conducted by video conferencing. The EPAO must have processes in place to verify the identity of the apprentice and ensure the apprentice is not being aided.

The professional discussion should take place in a quiet room, free from distractions and influence.

Question and resource development

The EPAO must develop a purpose-built assessment specification and question bank. It is recommended this is done in consultation with employers of this occupation. The EPAO must maintain the security and confidentiality of EPA materials when consulting with employers. The assessment specification and question bank must be reviewed at least once a year to ensure they remain fit-for-purpose.

The assessment specification must be relevant to the occupation and demonstrate how to assess the KSBs mapped to this assessment method. The EPAO must ensure that questions are refined and developed to a high standard. The questions must be unpredictable. A question bank of sufficient size will support this.

The EPAO must ensure that the apprentice has a different set of questions in the case of re-sits or re-takes.

The EPAO must produce the following materials to support the professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence:

• independent assessor assessment materials which include:
  • training materials
  • administration materials
  • moderation and standardisation materials
  • guidance materials
  • grading guidance
  • question bank
• EPA guidance for the apprentice and the employer

The EPAO must ensure that the EPA materials are subject to quality assurance procedures including standardisation and moderation.

Performance in the EPA determines the overall grade of:

• fail

• pass

• merit

• distinction

An independent assessor must individually grade the simulated practical with questions and professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence in line with this EPA plan.

The EPAO must combine the individual assessment method grades to determine the overall EPA grade.

If the apprentice fails one assessment method or more, they will be awarded an overall fail.

To achieve an overall pass, the apprentice must achieve at least a pass in all the assessment methods. Apprentices who fail one or more assessment methods will be awarded an overall 'fail' grade. In order to achieve an overall merit apprentices must achieve two passes and a distinction. In order to achieve an overall distinction apprentices must achieve a distinction in at least two assessment methods.

Grades from individual assessment methods must be combined in the following way to determine the grade of the EPA overall.

If the apprentice fails one assessment method or more, they can take a re-sit or a re-take at their employer’s discretion. The apprentice’s employer needs to agree that a re-sit or re-take is appropriate. A re-sit does not need further learning, whereas a re-take does. The apprentice should have a supportive action plan to prepare for a re-sit or a re-take.

The employer and the EPAO should agree the timescale for a re-sit or re-take. A re-sit is typically taken within 1 months of the EPA outcome notification. The timescale for a re-take is dependent on how much re-training is required and is typically taken within 4 months of the EPA outcome notification.

Failed assessment methods must be re-sat or re-taken within a 6-month period from the EPA outcome notification, otherwise the entire EPA will need to be re-sat or re-taken in full.

Re-sits and re-takes are not offered to an apprentice wishing to move from pass to a higher grade.

The apprentice will get a maximum EPA grade of if pass they need to re-sit or re-take one or more assessment methods, unless the EPAO determines there are exceptional circumstances.

The EPAO must have reasonable adjustments arrangements for the EPA.

This should include:

• how an apprentice qualifies for a reasonable adjustment
• what reasonable adjustments may be made

Adjustments must maintain the validity, reliability and integrity of the EPA as outlined in this EPA plan.

Special considerations

The EPAO must have special consideration arrangements for the EPA.

This should include:

• how an apprentice qualifies for a special consideration
• what special considerations will be given

Special considerations must maintain the validity, reliability and integrity of the EPA as outlined in this EPA plan.

Internal quality assurance refers to the strategies, policies and procedures that an EPAO must have in place to ensure valid, consistent and reliable EPA decisions.

EPAOs for this EPA must adhere to the requirements within the roles and responsibilities table.

They must also appoint independent assessors who:

• have recent relevant experience of the occupation or sector to at least occupational level 4 gained in the last 5 years or significant experience of the occupation or sector

Affordability of the EPA will be aided by using at least some of the following:

• assessing multiple apprentices simultaneously where the assessment method permits this

• using the employer’s premises

• conducting assessment methods on the same day

This apprenticeship is not aligned to professional recognition.