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This document explains the requirements for end-point assessment (EPA) for the technician scientist apprenticeship. End-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) must follow this when designing and delivering the EPA.
Technician scientist apprentices, their employers and training providers should read this document.
An approved EPAO must conduct the EPA for this apprenticeship. Employers must select an approved EPAO from the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s Register of end-point assessment organisations (RoEPAO).
A full-time apprentice typically spends 36 months on-programme (this means in training before the gateway) working towards competence as a technician scientist. All apprentices must spend at least 12 months on-programme. All apprentices must complete the required amount of off-the-job training specified by the apprenticeship funding rules.
This EPA has 2 assessment methods.
The grades available for each assessment method are:
Assessment method 1 - project presentation and 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 confirm that they think their apprentice is working at or above the occupational standard. The apprentice will then enter the gateway. The employer may take advice from the apprentice's training provider(s), but the employer must make the decision.
The apprentice must meet the gateway requirements before starting their EPA.
These are:
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 15 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.
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 any policies and procedures as 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.
A project involves the apprentice completing a significant and defined piece of work that has a real business application and benefit. The project must start after the apprentice has gone through the gateway.
The project presentation and questions must be structured to give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this EPA method to the highest available grade.
The project must meet the needs of the employer’s business and be relevant to the apprentice’s occupation and apprenticeship. The EPAO must confirm that it provides the apprentice with the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this EPA method to the highest available grade. The EPAO must refer to the grading descriptors to ensure that projects are pitched appropriately.
This EPA method includes 2 components:
The project and any components must be assessed holistically by the independent assessor when they are deciding the grade for this EPA method.
This EPA method is being used because it enables a defined piece of work to be undertaken after the gateway to demonstrate particular aspects of the occupation. The project reflects the approach taken to record scientific laboratory work. It would not be possible to observe the apprentice complete these activities as it would take too long and not be practical to schedule alongside existing work. Technician scientists are required to present the results of scientific work and so the presentation reflects the requirements of the role. The questioning enables underpinning knowledge and understanding to be assessed. This method enables synoptic assessment of knowledge, skills, and behaviours.
Apprentices must complete a project which may be based on:
To ensure the project allows the apprentice to meet the KSBs mapped to this EPA method to the highest available grade, the EPAO should sign-off the project’s title and scope at the gateway to confirm it is suitable.
The project must be in the form of a report.
The apprentice must start the project after the gateway. They must complete and submit the report to the EPAO after a maximum of 8 weeks. The employer should ensure the apprentice has the time and resources within this period, to plan and complete their project. The apprentice must complete their project and the production of all its components unaided.
The apprentice may work as part of a team which could include technical internal or external support. However, the project report must be the apprentice’s own work and will be reflective of their own role and contribution. The apprentice and their employer must confirm that the project report is the apprentice’s own work when it is submitted.
The report must include at least:
As a minimum, all projects must include:
The project report has a maximum word count of 3000 words. A tolerance of 10% above or below the word count is allowed at the apprentice’s discretion. Appendices, references and diagrams are not included in this total. The project report must map, in an appendix, how it evidences the relevant KSBs mapped to this EPA method.
This is a formal presentation where an apprentice will present to an independent assessor on a set subject. The independent assessor must ask questions. Apprentices must prepare, submit and deliver a presentation. The presentation is restricted to the KSBs allocated to this EPA method as shown in the mapping section of this document.
The presentation and questioning must last 75 minutes This will typically include a presentation of 30 minutes and questioning lasting 45 minutes.
The independent assessor must ask at least 8 questions. They 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 purpose of the independent assessor's questions will be to check the underpinning knowledge and understanding of the apprentice and to ensure coverage of the KSBs mapped to the method.
The presentation will provide an overview of the apprentice’s project.. Independent assessors will ask questions after the presentation. The presentation should build on the report and the apprentice should:
The apprentice must prepare and submit their presentation to the EPAO at the same time as the report which is a maximum of 8 weeks after the gateway.
The apprentice must notify the EPAO, at the submission of the presentation, of any technical requirements for the presentation. For the presentation, the apprentice will have access to:
The independent assessor must have at least 2 weeks to review the project report and presentation before the presentation is delivered by the apprentice, to allow them to prepare appropriate questions.
Apprentices must be given at least 2 weeks notice of the date and time of the presentation and question and answer session.
The presentation with questioning must take place in a suitable venue selected by the EPAO for example the EPAO’s or employer’s premises.
The presentation with questioning should take place in a quiet room, free from distractions and influence.
The presentation with questioning 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.
EPAOs must write an assessment specification and question bank. The specification must be relevant to the occupation and demonstrate how to assess the KSBs shown in the mapping. It is recommended this is done in consultation with employers of this occupation. EPAOs should maintain the security and confidentiality of EPA materials when consulting employers. The questions must be unpredictable. A question bank of sufficient size will support this. The assessment specification and questions must be reviewed at least once a year to ensure they remain fit-for-purpose.
EPAOs will develop purpose-built question banks and ensure that appropriate quality assurance procedures are in place. For example, considering standardisation, training and moderation. EPAOs will ensure that questions are refined and developed to a high standard.
EPAOs must ensure that apprentices have a different set of questions in the case of re-sits or re-takes.
In the discussion, an independent assessor and apprentice have a formal two-way conversation.
The apprentice can refer to and illustrate their answers with evidence from their portfolio of evidence. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate their competency across the KSBs mapped to this EPA method.
This EPA method is being used because it will allow KSBs which may not naturally occur in every workplace or may take too long to observe to be assessed. It also enables the assessment of a disparate set of KSBs. The professional discussion will enable underpinning knowledge to be tested. It reflects the requirement for Technician Scientists to communicate their approach to work when carrying out their everyday duties.
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 purpose of the independent assessor's questions will be to draw out contextualised examples, further clarify skills demonstrated in the portfolio and be used to ask open questions tailored to the role and environment.
A minimum of 1 question will be asked for each of the following themes:
The EPAO must give an apprentice 2 weeks notice of the professional discussion.
The independent assessor must have at least 2 week(s) 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 is however the portfolio of evidence is not directly assessed.
The professional discussion must last for 105 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 4 questions. Follow-up questions are allowed where clarification is required. 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 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 should maintain the security and confidentiality of EPA materials when consulting 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 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, training, and moderation.
The EPA methods contribute equally to the overall EPA grade.
Performance in the EPA will determine the apprenticeship grade of:
Independent assessors must individually grade the: project presentation and questions and professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence according to the requirements set out in this EPA plan.
EPAOs must combine the individual assessment method grades to determine the overall EPA grade.
Apprentices who fail one or more assessment method will be awarded an overall EPA fail.
Apprentices must achieve at least a pass in all the EPA methods to get an overall pass. In order to achieve an overall EPA ‘merit’, apprentices must achieve a pass in one assessment method and a distinction in the other assessment method. To achieve an overall EPA ‘distinction,’ the apprentice must achieve a distinction in both assessment methods.
Grades from individual assessment methods should be combined in the following way to determine the grade of the EPA as a whole.
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 2 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 3 months of the EPA outcome notification.
If the apprentice fails the project assessment method, they will be required to amend the project report in line with the independent assessor’s feedback. The apprentice will be given 3 weeks to rework and submit the amended report.
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:
experience in a scientific laboratory in academia or industry within a relevant scientific subject area, including experience in data analysis and evaluation, data management, ethics, regulation and registration, and laboratory techniques as well as the scientific subject-specific knowledge outlined in k5 on the knowledge section.
independent assessors must be competent in the occupation they are assessing. this is shown through the individual having achieved a qualification at a level equivalent to or higher than the level of the apprenticeship standard being assessed; or by holding professional recognition at a level equivalent to or higher than the registration level of the apprenticeship standard being assessed. or have been assessed by the epa as being competent to assess at this level.
Affordability of the EPA will be aided by using at least some of the following:
This apprenticeship standard is designed to prepare successful apprentices to meet the requirements for registration as a:
Science Council for Registered Scientist (partial alignment)
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