Network engineer

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

Network engineer apprentices, their employers and training providers should read this document.

A full-time network engineer apprentice typically spends 24 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 3 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 work with the training provider to select an approved EPAO from the apprenticeship providers and assessment register (APAR).

This EPA has 2 assessment methods.

The grades available for each assessment method are below.

Assessment method 1 - simulated assessment :

• fail

• pass

• distinction

Assessment method 2 - professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio:

• 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 3 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 is occupationally competent. That is, they are deemed to be working at or above the level set out in the apprenticeship standard and ready to undertake the EPA. 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

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 the professional discussion. 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 workplace documentation and records, for example:

• workplace policies and procedures
• witness statements- maximum of 2 of this type of evidence will be accepted
• annotated photographs
• video clips with a maximum combined total duration 10 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, any evidence from a simulated environment 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.

Gateway evidence must be submitted to the EPAO, along with 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

The simulated assessment method involves the apprentice submitting a simulated piece of

work .

This assessment method has 2 components:

• simulation– a set of tasks to be completed in a virtual lab environment based on a brief and instructions provided by the EPAO

• question and answer session

Together, these components give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method. They are assessed by an independent assessor.

Rationale

• this is a practical role, which can be demonstrated through completing tasks

• it assesses KSBs holistically and objectively

• it is a valid assessment because it involves direct testing under controlled conditions

The rationale for this assessment method is to assess the apprentice in a consistent way, irrespective of their particular role in their organisation and to ensure that all KSBs mapped to this method are able to be demonstrated in a reasonable timeframe. The typical length of network engineering projects could make the EPA delivery through an observation impractical to schedule thus increasing costs and time spent at gateway. Apprentices must complete a simulation assessment in a virtual lab environment online where they will demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method.

Delivery

Before the simulated assessment begins, the apprentice must be provided with both written and verbal instructions on the tasks they must complete, including the timescales they are working to. This will not be included in the assessment time.

The EPAO approved invigilator must observe the following during the simulated assessment submitted:

• Network installation

• Network Optimisation

The tasks will be completed and submitted online to ensure the security of the assessment is maintained.

As part of the simulation assessment task the apprentice will be required to submit a virtual lab report consisting of evidence of the completed activity along with decision-making evidence including:

• the completed lab file with all saved and completed work

• tickets and or test plans

• accompanying notes which explain why the apprentice chose a particular network engineering solution or to explain the approach they took during the simulation.

All work must be uploaded and saved within the total assessment time for this assessment method and uploaded online through a secure online portal. Any work which is uploaded after the maximum assessment time will be disregarded and will not be assessed. To maintain integrity of the assessment, on completion of the assessment and once all evidence is uploaded all notes and or copies of the assessment materials must be deleted from the workspace as instructed by the EPAO approved invigilator.

By submitting these items, the assessor will be able to make a judgement against the KSBs mapped to this assessment method and can determine whether the tasks have been completed competently.

The simulation assessment must be overseen by an EPAO approved invigilator to ensure that the apprentice completes the assessment independently. This task can be undertaken face to face or online by use of a video camera to ensure that the apprentice is undertaking the simulated task assessment unaided.

EPAOs must ensure that appropriate measures are in place to ensure that the security of the assessment is maintained and that the apprentice is not being aided in some way.

If an EPAO cannot provide access to Proctor Software, they should use live streaming or another appropriate invigilation method. When using live streaming it must be by a continual feed.

The virtual lab environment must include a template facility for the apprentice to make brief explanatory notes of critical decision-making activities that underpin completion of the tasks in the simulated assessment. The notes facility must run alongside the online assessment activity and may be within the same software package. These notes are key to enabling the assessor to understand why the assessment solutions were arrived at and help ascertain the depth of understanding required to test occupational competence against the assigned KSBs.

The simulation tasks will have a brief and instructions for the apprentice including how required outputs should be formatted. The brief and instructions will specify what systems, tools and platforms will be required to complete the tasks. This information will be contained within the software package for delivering the assessment. The software package will not be seen in advance and will be given to the apprentice at the start of each simulation task.

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

The EPAO must provide a simulation assessment method specification. It must detail how a simulation can enable an apprentice to meet the KSBs mapped to this assessment method to the highest available grade. .

The output must be in the form of simulation.

The apprentice must start the simulation after the gateway. The employer should ensure the apprentice has the time and resources, within the simulation period, to plan and complete their simulation.

Component 1: simulation

The simulation must include at least:

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

The simulated assessment must take up to a maximum of 4 hours.

The simulated assessment cannot be split other than to allow 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 approve the 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 apprentice may choose to end the simulation session early. The apprentice must be confident they have demonstrated competence against the assessment requirements for the assessment method. The invigilator must ensure the apprentice is fully aware of all assessment requirements. The invigilator cannot suggest or choose to end the assessment methods early, unless in an emergency. The invigilator is responsible for ensuring the apprentice understands the implications of ending an assessment early if they choose to do so. The independent invigilator may suggest the assessment continues. The independent invigilator must document the apprentice’s request to end the assessment early.

The independent invigilator must have no direct connection or conflict of interest with the apprentice, their employer or training provider; in all instances, including when the EPAO is the training provider (i.e. HEI)

Component 2: Question and answer session

The question and answer session must be structured to give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method to the highest available grade.

The apprentice must be questioned about their project and simulation.

The question and answer session must last for 30 minutes. The independent assessor must use the full time available for questioning. The independent assessor can increase the total time 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 6 questions. They must use the questions from their 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 is:

• to verify that the activity was completed by the apprentice
• to seek clarification where required
• to assess those KSBs that the apprentice did not have the opportunity to demonstrate with the simulation, although these should be kept to a minimum
• to assess level of competence against the grading descriptors

The independent assessor must have at least 1 weeks to review the simulation, before the question and answer session, to allow them to prepare questions.

The apprentice must be given at least 1 weeks’ notice of the question and answer session.

The apprentice may choose to end the question and answer session early. The apprentice must be confident they have demonstrated competence against the assessment requirements for the assessment method. The independent assessor or EPAO must ensure the apprentice is fully aware of all assessment requirements. The independent assessor or EPAO cannot suggest or choose to end the assessment methods early, unless in an emergency. The EPAO is responsible for ensuring the apprentice understands the implications of ending an assessment early if they choose to do so. The independent assessor may suggest the assessment continues. The independent assessor must document the apprentice’s request to end the assessment early.

Assessment decision

The independent assessor must make the grading decision. They must assess the project components holistically when deciding the grade.

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

• the KSBs demonstrated in the simulation and question and answer session
• the apprentice’s answers to questions
• the grade achieved

Assessment location

The question and answer session must take place in a suitable venue selected by the EPAO for example, the EPAO’s or employer’s premises. It should take place in a quiet room, free from distractions and influence.

The question and answer session 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.

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.

EPAO must produce the following materials to support the project:

• independent assessor EPA 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 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.

Rationale

This assessment method is being used because:

• it assesses KSBs holistically and objectively
• it allows for the assessment of KSBs that do not occur on a predictable or regular basis
• it allows for assessment of responses where there are a range of potential answers
• it can be conducted remotely, potentially reducing cost

reduces the assessment burden on the apprentice

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 purpose of the independent assessor’s questions will be to assess the apprentice’s competence against the following themes:

• customer service
• business processes
• implementation
• troubleshooting network issues
• optimisation and testing

The EPAO must give an apprentice 1 weeks' notice of the professional discussion.

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

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 may last for 60 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 8 questions. The independent assessor must use the questions from the EPAO’s question bank. Follow-up questions are allowed where clarification is required.

The apprentice may choose to end the assessment method early. The apprentice must be confident they have demonstrated competence against the assessment requirements for the assessment method. The independent assessor or EPAO must ensure the apprentice is fully aware of all assessment requirements. The independent assessor or EPAO cannot suggest or choose to end the assessment methods early, unless in an emergency. The EPAO is responsible for ensuring the apprentice understands the implications of ending an assessment early if they choose to do so. The independent assessor may suggest the assessment continues. The independent assessor must document the apprentice’s request to end the assessment early.

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:

• 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 assessment and professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio 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. To achieve an overall merit, the apprentice must achieve at least a pass in one of the assessment methods and a distinction in the other. To achieve an overall distinction, the apprentice must achieve distinction in both 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 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 4 months of the EPA outcome notification.

If the apprentice fails the simulated assessment method, they must do a brand new simulation. The apprentice will be given 2 weeks to submit the Simulation.

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 merit if they need to re-sit or re-take one or more assessment methods, unless the EPAO determines there are exceptional circumstances.

Reasonable adjustments

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 4 years or significant experience of the occupation or sector

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

• completing applicable assessment methods online, for example computer-based assessment

• utilising digital remote platforms to conduct applicable assessment methods

• assessing multiple apprentices simultaneously where the assessment method permits this

• using the employer’s premises

• conducting assessment methods on the same day

This apprenticeship aligns with:

• BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT for Register of IT Technicians (RITTech) level 4

This apprenticeship aligns with:

• The Institute of Telecommunications Professionals. for recognition at full membership