Sports Turf Technical Manager

This document explains the requirements for end-point assessment (EPA) for the sports turf technical manager apprenticeship. This apprenticeship has an integrated qualification which means both the qualification and apprenticeship need to be completed, passed and awarded during the same period.

The awarding body (AB) is accountable for the integrated assessment method. The end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) must take responsibility for all other assessment methods in the EPA. EPAOs and ABs must work collaboratively to manage the delivery of the EPA.

Sports Turf Technical Manager apprentices, their employers, training providers and other interested parties should read this document.

A full-time sports turf technical manager apprentice typically spends 36 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.

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

• have completed and passed all required elements of the FdSc sportsturf and applied turfgrass science except the integrated component

• 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 the professional discussion. 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 as a qualitative rather than quantitative approach is suggested.

Evidence sources may include workplace documentation and records, for example:

• workplace policies and procedures
• witness statements
• annotated photographs
• video clips with a maximum total duration 10 minutes; the apprentice must be in view and identifiable

This is not a definitive list and 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 must be valid and attributable to the apprentice and 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 integrated assessment method must be delivered after non-integrated assessment methods have been attempted.

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:

• Academic and vocational skills
• Essential plant and soil science
• Principles and practices of turfgrass management
• Turfgrass growth and development
• Performance management of sports turf surfaces
• Research methods
• Industry project
• Integrated pest management
• Sports turf surface construction and drainage systems
• Environmental plant physiology
• Managing resources

The EPAO must give an apprentice at least 7 days' 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 be allocated 180 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 professional discussion cannot be split, other than for comfort breaks. 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.

The independent assessor must explain to the apprentice the format and timescales of the professional discussion before it starts. This does not count towards the assessment time.

The independent assessor must ask at least 33 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 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 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.

This is an integrated assessment method. This integrated assessment method forms part of the apprenticeship’s EPA as well as being typically 20 credits towards the awarding of the qualification.

The KSBs aligned to this integrated assessment method will be assessed and graded by the awarding body and contribute to the overall outcome of the apprenticeship and the qualification.

Overview

A project involves the apprentice completing a significant and defined piece of work that aligns with the requirements of the integrated qualification.

Rationale

This assessment method is being used because:

• it allows for the assessment of KSBs that take place over a long period of time
• it allows for a discrete set of KSBs to be evidenced during the post-gateway period
• it assesses KSBs holistically
• it can produce something that is of genuine business benefit to the apprentice’s employer
• it allows the apprentice to directly demonstrate KSBs relating to communication and presentation
• it allows for the presentation of evidence and testing of responses where there are a range of potential answer
• it can be conducted remotely, potentially reducing cost

• it reduces the assessment burden on the apprentice

Delivery

The delivery of the environmental management and sustainability project and presentation must align with the conditions set out by the AB for the integrated qualification. The apprentice must start the project after the gateway. The employer should ensure the apprentice has the time and resources, within the project period, to plan and complete their project.

The apprentice must complete a project and presentation based on environmental management and sustainability.

The project report must typically have a word count of 2500 words. Appendices, references and diagrams are not included in this total. The apprentice must complete and submit the report and any presentation materials to the EPAO by the end of week 6 of the EPA period.

The presentation should typically last 15 minutes.

Assessment decision

To ensure marking judgements are fair and accurate, and uphold the principles of the EPA, the marking of all integrated or parts of the integrated assessments, must be marked or graded by someone independent. This means that they must be marked by the awarding organisation, an independent person appointed by the awarding organisation, an independent assessor sourced from the EPAO or a combination of the above.

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

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

Question and resource development

The AB must develop a purpose-built assessment specification. It is recommended this is done in consultation with employers or subject matter experts for this occupation. The AB should maintain the security and confidentiality of EPA materials when consulting with employers. The assessment specification must be reviewed 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 AB must ensure that the assessment specification is refined and developed to a high standard.

The AB must produce the following materials to support this assessment method:

• administration materials
• moderation and standardisation materials
• guidance materials
• grading guidance
• assessment specification
• question bank

The AB must ensure that the 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

• Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence

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.

Awarding bodies should make clear in their marking criteria which grade boundary for the integrated assessment method represents a pass grade for the EPA. This pass grade must reflect demonstration of occupational competence in the KSBs.

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 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.

Non-integrated assessment methods must be attempted before the integrated assessment method is attempted. The re-sit or re-take opportunities for the integrated assessment method must fall within the typical EPA period timeframes. This is to ensure that apprentices are not disadvantaged by the assessment of qualifications being available within an assessment window occurring once a year.

If a resit or retake is needed for the environmental management and sustainability project and presentation, the EPAO will determine if the apprentice will re-work their existing environmental management and sustainability project and presentation or complete a new one.

EPAOs must ensure that whichever decision is taken, any further EPA attempts remain in line with the assessment conditions already laid out in this plan. In making their decision, EPAOs may also consider the degree awarding rules and whether new learning is necessary.

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. The apprentice will get a maximum grade of a pass for any individual method that is re-sat or re-taken.

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 overall 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 and AB 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 and AB 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 and AB must have in place to ensure valid, consistent and reliable end-point assessment decisions.

EPAOs and ABs for this end-point assessment plan 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 5 gained in the last 3 years or significant experience of the occupation or sector

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

• utilising digital remote platforms to conduct applicable assessment methods

This apprenticeship aligns with:

• Alignment with level 5 of the Grounds Management Framework (GMF) for Grounds Management Association (GMA) recognition