Apprenticeship completion, EPA and the role of employers

Reforms to apprenticeships implemented in the UK over the past decade have included a gradual transition from apprenticeship frameworks to standards. All the standards include a final summative assessment in the form of an end-point assessment (EPA). EPA was introduced primarily to ensure that apprentices underwent an independent, comprehensive, holistic assessment of their occupational competence at the end of their apprenticeship. The transition from frameworks to standards has been accompanied by a decline in apprenticeship achievement. Employers and learners have a pivotal role to play in increasing apprenticeship achievement rates. This research carried out by Think UK aims to explore the roles of employers and learners in successful EPA completion, and suggests ways in which assessment and certification could be improved.

The four main objectives were: (1) to understand whether EPA contributes to low achievement rates, and if so, which standards are affected; (2) if EPA is a factor for some standards, to understand the extent to which the employer and/or the apprentice and/or the provider contribute to apprentices leaving prematurely; (3) to understand why the employer, apprentice and/or provider may allow non-completion; and (4) to make recommendations on what could be done in response.

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