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This document explains the requirements for end-point assessment (EPA) for the rail infrastructure operator apprenticeship. End-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) must follow this when designing and delivering the EPA.
Rail infrastructure operator apprentices, their employers and training providers should read this document.
A full-time rail infrastructure operator apprentice typically spends 18 months on-programme (this means in training before the gateway). 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 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 register of end-point assessment organisations (RoEPAO).
This EPA has 2 assessment methods.
The grades available for each assessment method are below.
Assessment method 1 - simulated practical assessment with questions:
Assessment method 2 - professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence:
The result from each assessment method is combined to decide the overall apprenticeship grade. The following grades are available for the apprenticeship:
The EPA will be taken within the EPA period. The EPA period begins when the EPAO confirms the gateway requirements are met and is typically 3 months.
The expectation is that the EPAO will confirm the gateway requirements are met and the EPA begins 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:
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 8 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.
Evidence sources may include:
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.
In a 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 it takes place. The assessment environment must closely relate to the apprentice’s natural working environment. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method.
This EPA method is being used because this is a practical occupation requiring the demonstration of knowledge, skills and behaviours. Using equipment, software or both that will ensure that safety-critical aspects can be tested in a manner that is repeatable and consistent. The breadth of knowledge, skills and behaviours are unlikely to occur in a specific real-life scenario and this method ensures consistency for candidates operating across a range of scenarios. This is a cost-effective method of testing, ensuring the availability of equipment at a specific time. Tasks will be observed live by the independent assessor. This will ensure validity.
The simulated practical assessment 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 assessment with questions.
The independent assessor must only observe one apprentice at a time to ensure quality and rigour. They must be as unobtrusive as possible.
The EPAO must give an apprentice 6 weeks' notice of the . simulated practical assessment with questions
The simulated practical assessment with questions must take 3 hours.
The independent assessor can increase the time of the simulated practical assessment 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 assessment with questions may take place in parts but must be completed over 1 working day. A working day is typically considered to be 7.5 hours long. The reason for this split is it will allow for the planned, unplanned and emergency scenarios to be assessed as discrete events. This will allow the independent assessor to identify appropriate KSBs as the basis for questioning.
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 assessment with questions before it starts. This does not count towards the assessment time.
The independent assessor must observe the following during the practical assessment:
1. Planned scenario
A planned event, including but not limited to:
2. Unplanned scenario
An unplanned event, including but not limited to:
3. Emergency situation scenario
An emergency situation, including but not limited to:
These activities provide the apprentice with the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method.
The independent assessor must ask questions. to enable the apprentice to demonstrate competency against all targeted KSBs, that have not been assessed during the practical assessment. The independent assessor will ask a minimum of 3 open questions during each of the planned, unplanned and emergency scenarios, totalling a minimum of 9 questions. The independent assessor should use questions from a question bank generated by the EPAO and they can tailor these questions based on what they observe in order to assess underpinning KSBs.
Questioning must be completed within the total time allowed for the practical assessment. There may be breaks during the practical demonstration to allow the apprentice to move from one location to another and for meal breaks. Any breaks that occur do not count towards the assessment time. KSBs observed and answers to questions must be documented by the independent assessor.
Questioning can occur both during and after the practical assessment. The time for questioning is included in the overall assessment time. The independent assessor must ask at least 9 questions. To remain as unobtrusive as possible, the independent assessor should ask questions during natural stops between tasks and after completion of work rather than disrupting the apprentice’s flow. The independent assessor must use the questions from the 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 assessment 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 simulated practical assessment 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 assessment with questions must be provided by the EPAO, who can liaise with the employer to provide these.
Additional venue requirements that must be in place include:
Practical assessments must be conducted in one of the following locations:
Prior to the practical assessment taking place the employer will provide the necessary equipment and resources.
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 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 assessment with questions:
The EPAO must ensure that the EPA materials are subject to quality assurance procedures including standardisation and moderation.
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.
This EPA method is being used because some KSBs need more nuanced questioning than a practical assessment can provide. This is a good way in which to assess a disparate range of KSBs because they can only be carried out at specific times when incidents have occurred. The portfolio forms the basis of the discussion.
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 independent assessor will conduct and assess the professional discussion. The apprentice may use their portfolio to support their responses.
The professional discussion will be conducted as set out here:
The professional discussion is to be conducted on a one-to-one basis. Apprentices must be assessed against the KSBs assigned to this assessment method as shown in the mapping of KSBs. Apprentices are expected to understand and use relevant occupational language that would be typical of a competent person in this occupation.
During this method, the independent assessor must combine questions from the EPAO's question bank and are expected to use their professional judgement to tailor those questions appropriately. The apprentice can use the portfolio of evidence to support answers being given.
KSBs met and answers to questions must be recorded by the independent assessor.
The independent assessor must use the assessment tools and procedures that are set by the EPAO to record the professional discussion.
The independent assessor will make all grading decisions.
The EPAO must give an apprentice 6 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 12 questions. The independent assessor must use the questions from the EPAO’s question bank or create their own questions in line with the EPAO’s training. Follow-up questions are allowed where clarification is required.
The independent assessor must make the grading decision.
The independent assessor must keep accurate records of the assessment. They must record:
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.
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:
The EPAO must ensure that the EPA materials are subject to quality assurance procedures including standardisation and moderation.
The assessment methods contribute equally to the overall EPA pass grade.
Performance in the EPA determines the apprenticeship grade of:
An independent assessor must individually grade the simulated practical assessment 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 or more assessment methods, they will be awarded an overall EPA fail.
To achieve an overall pass, the apprentice should achieve at least a pass in all the assessment methods. Due to the safety critical nature related to competency in this occupation in order to achieve an overall EPA pass, apprentices must achieve a pass in the simulated practical assessment method and a pass in the professional discussion assessment method.
Grades from individual assessment methods should be combined in the following way to determine the grade of the EPA overall.
Apprentices who fail one or more EPA method(s) can take a re-sit or a re-take at the 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.
Apprentices should have a supportive action plan to prepare for a re-sit or a re-take.
The employer and EPAO agree the timescale for a re-sit or re-take. A re-sit is typically taken within 1 month 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 3 months of the EPA outcome notification.
Failed EPA 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 apprentices wishing to move from pass to a higher grade.
An apprentice will get a maximum EPA grade of pass for a re-sit or re-take, unless the EPAO determines there are exceptional circumstances.
The EPAO must have reasonable adjustments arrangements for the EPA.
This should include:
Adjustments must maintain the validity, reliability and integrity of the EPA as outlined in this EPA plan.
Internal quality assurance refers to how EPAOs ensure valid, consistent and reliable EPA decisions. EPAOs must adhere to the requirements within the roles and responsibilities section and:
Affordability of the EPA will be aided by using at least some of the following:
This apprenticeship aligns with:
Chartered Institution of Railway Operators (CIRO) for Associate
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