Duties:
- To ensure compliance with BPN policies
- To ensure compliance with external regulatory requirements at all times
- To bring added rigor and consistency to the assessment through a wider industry perspective, knowledge and experience
- To assess all components of the final end-point assessment independently using
- the agreed assessment plan and grading criteria
- To participate in regular standardisation events and continuous CPD
- To help identify improvements to the assessment systems and materials for apprentices, assessors and moderators
Delivery:
Each individual assessment requires:
- Liaison with an apprentice and Employer to agree dates for assessment
- Evaluation of the apprentice’s portfolio of evidence containing typically 10 documents (laptop based)
- Preparation of questions for the assessments
- Observation of practice followed by questioning. This takes place in the employer’s setting.
- A professional discussion based on a portfolio of evidence. May take place remotely or in the employers setting
- Completion of accurate assessment records and uploading within SLA for quality assurance
Person specification:
Must:
- Have a sound understanding of the Teaching Assistant Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard, including the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours required by apprentices within the IfATE Assessment Plan
- Understand the educational sector and of the role covered by the apprenticeship.
- Have recent relevant experience of the occupation or sector to at least occupational level 3 gained in the last 2 years or significant experience of the occupation or sector (V1.1)
- Hold a qualification to undertake assessment (e.g. L3 IEPA, D32/33, A1/A2, TAQA/CAVA) and have significant knowledge and expertise in providing consistent and appropriate judgements of a candidate’s skill and ability.
- Ability to contribute, and share best practice in standardisation activities to enhance and develop the programme and ensure consistency of assessment decisions standardisation
- Have a clean driving license and be willing and able to travel regionally to carry out observations in settings where required.
- Be able to work effectively with a wide range of people, to communicate clearly and to maintain good working relationships.
- Be able to organise, plan and prioritise time and tasks effectively whilst meeting the needs of multiple stakeholders.
- Be capable of working towards tight deadlines.
- Be able to use own initiative.
What does our team do?
The Best Practice Network Apprenticeship Services End-Point Assessment (EPA) team is responsible for developing and delivering EPA of apprenticeship standards in line with assessment plans published by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. The team is overseen by the Senior Responsible Officer.
The team is responsible for the end-to-end process of accepting a learner through gateway, taking the relevant assessment, grading their assessment, providing feedback and ultimately certification. This activity is supported by a suite of policy and practice related to assessor allocations, assessment, Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) requirements, External Quality Assurance (EQA) requirements, IT systems, partnership arrangements and staff management, designed to drive consistency and excellence.
What are the main priorities of the role?
All Independent End- Point Assessors will:
- Carry out end point assessment, including retakes or resits, by visits and by electronic means as required
- Engage in regular training and standardisation activities to ensure a consistent approach to End-Point Assessment
- Maintain a thorough knowledge of BPN’s EPA policies and procedures
- Maintain and provide evidence of ongoing, relevant Continuous Professional Development (CPD) relevant to the occupation in the apprenticeship being assessed
- Additionally, Independent End-Point Assessors may be asked to take part in peer review processes for assessment materials in the subject area concerned. This activity will attract additional payments.
- The specialist duties and responsibilities of the Independent End Point Assessor
- Deliver quality assessments, in line with the IfATE End Point Assessment Plan for the Standard, and the relevant BPN assessor handbook
- Provide detailed feedback to the learner on each assessment
- Utilise BPN’s technology platform to record assessments and interact with learners
- Attend standardisation events to ensure quality, compliance and consistency across the standard being assessed
- Manage assessments and scheduling
- Communicate with learners, training partners and employers on assessments and grading
- Collaborate with the BPN assessment team to feedback on any issues
