Background on Apprenticeship Assessment Issues
The Thatching Apprenticeship Group have been awaiting an update on the issues raised by the construction industry following the Skills England proposed updates to apprenticeship assessments.
This followed the government changes made and www.skillsengland.education.gov.uk website states “This website is in the process of transitioning information from the previous skills body the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) following its closure on 1 June 2025 to Skills England. “
Construction Coalition Concerns
The concerns raised on the apprenticeship assessments reforms were received by Skills England following the formation of a Construction Coalition. We now have an interesting update from our friends at the British Woodworking Federation (as construction coalition members) with information on the issues and reviews of the apprenticeship assessments made as part of them being one of the 5 apprenticeships selected for trials to deal with the issues.
They have proffered the following useful update for us:-
Apprenticeship Assessment Update
British Woodworking Federation update:-
“The Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery apprenticeship was selected as one of 5 apprenticeships to work through the issues of the Apprenticeship Assessment Plan reforms following the formation of the Construction Coalition and their letter to government expressing significant concerns.
In response to this Skills England formed a construction taskforce to discuss and address issues, below which sat working groups (nominally titled Groups of Persons) as subject matter experts for each of the 5 apprenticeship frameworks being reviewed as part of a trial process.
Skills England worked hard to meet our industry needs and have as a result revised their process for risk profiling each sector, resulting in Carpentry and Joinery being uprated from medium risk to a high-risk occupation, this in reference to installation of safety critical products such as timber stairs and fire doors among other factors.
As a result of this, we were able to include a higher number of the assessment outcomes as mandatory for inclusion in every assessment, conducted by the Awarding Organisation and not permitted for design and completion by the training provider. We have also specified that assessment must include at least one observation or simulation, I pushed for observation to be listed first as we believe that as an apprenticeship this should be the primary means of assessment, with simulation being a valid alternative, however other parts of the assessment could be made up of other formats including professional discussion, multi choice assessment or written answer. This allows the awarding organisation to use innovation, while ensuring that practical skills are still assessed using practical methods and not reduced to computer screen-based assessment throughout.
Finally we have had a statement added to the framework specifying that Awarding Organisations must have due regard to all relevant frameworks, standards and industry recognised practices and guidance published by regulators, professional bodies, Sector Representative Organisations (SRO’s) and Standards Setting Bodies (SSB’s), meaning that the work of the Industry Competence Steering Group (ICSG) and Sector Led Group 10 (SLG10) in developing the competence Framework has to be referenced when designing and setting assessment, that the awarding organisation cant just base it on their own understanding. This should facilitate consistency in assessment standard across the country and not lead to one awarding organisation offering easier assessment than another and a resulting race to the bottom……
Going forward, End Point Assessment will no longer be a requirement, instead it can be carried out on program, contributing to the final result.
In some cases where appropriate awarding organisations can allow colleges/training providers to design and mark assessment internally, however this must be done with guidance and oversight of the Awarding Organisation and in accordance with conditions of recognition set by OFQUAL. In short, the Awarding Organisation is held accountable for any assessment they permit colleges and training providers, reducing the risk for conflict of interest.
Elements of the assessment are specified as mandatory for completion in every case and must be set by the awarding organisation and there must be at least one assessment conducted by observation or simulation, meaning practical assessment remains a requirement of the AAP (these elements have been highlighted in bold on the AAP)
Literacy and numeracy remain a requirement of the apprenticeship and elements of the AAP that contribute to these have likewise been highlighted in the AAP, ensuring that they are demonstrated in ways appropriate to the role.
All assessments must be set with due consideration of industry set standards and best practice. “
Many Thanks
Many thanks to the Construction Coalition for identifying issues with the proposed apprenticeship assessment reforms and starting the trial process to resolve them.
Further thanks to the British Woodworking Federation, as one of the those in the Coalition who have worked to resolve things, so far and for updating us so well.
Thanks to all those on the Thatching Apprenticeship Group who have worked hard to get it thus far. We will see what the future holds when we hear from the college and Awarding Organisation in relation to our Thatching Apprenticeship moving forward.
Thank you, to those reading this, for your interest in apprenticeship assessments and the apprenticeships in general. Let’s hope that these trials, which have taken longer than anticipated, will continue to be advantageous to all.
Thatching Apprenticeship and Assessments
Thatcher apprenticeship was approved in February 2024 after a lot of hard work from a great group of well-established thatchers from around the county. They knew the importance of correctly passing on their knowledge and skills to the next generation of thatchers via a government approved route. A way to improve thatching training and also to hopefully pull together a rather fragmented unregulated trade. Our Assessment Organisation for thatching apprenticeship had heard nothing (since Skills England formation) and, luckily, our recent communication and questioning regarding what was going on, stopped them from “shelving it”.
The delays, changes and lack of communication have been very frustrating for our group. However, the Construction Coalition have made a great start in making sure Skills England changes are not to the detriment of the qualifications and standards which will be expected of those passing assessment. We will keep you posted as and when things progress.
