What is an Aprenticeship Standard?
The Institute of Apprenticeships has been working with employers over recent years to create apprenticeship standards, in order to raise the quality of the qualifications. These standards have gradually replaced the former apprenticeship frameworks. Standards are occupation-focused and developed with employers.
Each standard has been developed in collaboration with employers and industry experts who understand the needs of the workforce and the skills, knowledge and behaviours that an apprentice will require in order to perform their role in the workplace. The course content and assessments for each apprenticeship standard is designed around those specific skills, knowledge and behaviours.
Learning happens throughout the apprenticeship with a final assessment at the end.
Some standards feature industry standard qualifications which the apprentice will study as part of their course and must pass in order to complete their apprenticeship. For example, the Level 2 Accounts/Finance Assistant Apprenticeship Standard includes the Level 2 Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Foundation Certificate in Accounting. Where functional skills are required (Maths, English and ICT/IT) these will also be blended into the course programme.
Apprentices studying for an apprenticeship standard are generally assessed multiple times throughout the duration of
their course and in addition, they will undergo an ‘End Point Assessment’ on completion. This may consist of a portfolio presentation, question and answer session or interview, presentation of a project and/or an employer reference. The End Point Assessment is conducted by an unbiased external body, rather than the apprentice’s training provider.
Even after the apprentice has completed their standard and gained their qualification, they may be required to undergo future assessments in order to retain it. Hence, their learning is maintained and developed beyond the End Point Assessment