V1.2
This document explains the requirements for end-point assessment (EPA) for the production assistant - screen and audio apprenticeship. End-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) must follow this when designing and delivering the EPA.
Production assistant - screen and audio apprentices, their employers and training providers should read this document.
A full-time production assistant - screen and audio apprentice typically spends 15 months on-programme (this means in training before the gateway). 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.
An approved EPAO must conduct the EPA for this apprenticeship. Employers must select an approved EPAO from the register of end-point assessment organisations (RoEPAO).
This EPA has 2 assessment methods.
The grades available for each assessment method are below.
Assessment method 1 - scenario test - presentation and questioning:
Assessment method 2 - professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence:
The result from each assessment method is combined to decide the overall apprenticeship grade. The following grades are available for the apprenticeship:
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 has attained sufficient KSBs to complete the apprenticeship. 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:
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 this assessment method. It will typically contain 10 discrete pieces of evidence. Evidence must be mapped against the KSBs. Evidence may be used to demonstrate more than one KSB; a qualitative as opposed to quantitative approach is suggested.
Evidence sources may include:
This is not a definitive list; 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 should be valid and attributable to the apprentice; 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.
The apprentice must submit the gateway evidence to their EPAO, including any organisation specific policies and procedures requested by the EPAO.
The assessment methods can be delivered in any order.
The result of one assessment method does not need to be known before starting the next.
The scenario test enables the apprentice to show how they react to a production brief, interpret information and present their findings.
The scenario test, presentation and questioning must be structured to give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this EPA method to the highest available grade.
The scenario test, presentation and questioning is undertaken after the apprentice has gone through the gateway. The EPAO will set the scenario test and check that it meets the type of production the apprentice has worked on (for example, film, TV, radio, podcast or online content).
This assessment method includes two components:
This assessment method is being used because:
The scenario test - presentation and questioning 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 scenario test - presentation and questioning.
The EPAO must give an apprentice 2 weeks notice of the scenario test - presentation and questioning.
The scenario test - presentation and questioning must take 3 hours .
The independent assessor can increase the time of the scenario test - presentation and questioning (component 2 - presentation and questioning element only) by up to 10%. This time is to allow the apprentice to complete their response to a question if necessary.
The scenario test - presentation and questioning cannot be split, other than for comfort breaks. Where breaks occur, they will not count towards the total EPA time.
EPAOs must manage invigilation of the apprentice during the assessment, to maintain security of the EPA, in line with their malpractice policy. This role can be undertaken by the independent assessor as they will be present for the whole duration of the assessment.
The independent assessor must explain to the apprentice the format and timescales of the scenario test - presentation and questioning before it starts. This does not count towards the assessment time.
The scenario test - presentation and questioning is comprised of two components:
These activities provide the apprentice with the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method.
Component 1 – Scenario test
Delivery
Apprentices will be given a scenario test in the form of a production brief that will test their creative thinking, resourcing and planning skills. The assessor will be present for the scenario test, either face-to-face or via online video conferencing. If using an online platform, EPAOs must ensure appropriate measures are in place to prevent misrepresentation. They will be given 2 hours and 30 minutes to:
The EPAO will provide additional information to the apprentice 60 minutes into the scenario test.
An operational and creative change will be introduced at this stage and the apprentice will be required to demonstrate how they adapt.
Examples of changes might typically include one of the following:
To support EPAOs in delivering the assessment, the production brief should set out:
Component 2 – Presentation with questioning
Apprentices will prepare and deliver a presentation that appropriately covers the KSBs assigned to this method of assessment.
The presentation will be completed as part of the scenario test and will be presented to an independent assessor, either face-to-face or via online video conferencing.
If using an online platform, EPAOs must ensure appropriate measures are in place to prevent misrepresentation. The presentation will take place directly after the completion of the scenario test.
Outputs from the scenario test will not, therefore, be provided to the assessor in advance of the presentation.
The rationale for this assessment method is:
Production assistants (screen and audio) have to present their creative ideas or the resources needed for the delivery of productions to colleagues on projects undertaken.
Questions must be asked. The purpose of the questioning is to explore aspects of the presentation given by the apprentice and will assess the apprentice’s depth of understanding, skills and behaviours.
The questions will be drawn from a question bank supplied by the EPAO, but the independent assessor may generate their own questions pertinent to the scenario test and presentation. This must be in line with the EPAO’s training and moderation process.
Delivery
The presentation will be undertaken following the scenario test. The presentation and questions will take place either face to face or be presented to an independent assessor via online video conferencing.
The way in which the content of the presentation is delivered is not prescriptive but should include the use of written materials and a visual aid.
The presentation will outline the apprentices' findings from the scenario test; the apprentice’s proposed episode or programme structure for a screen, online or audio production. It will provide a summary detailing how the proposal satisfies the production brief provided in the scenario test
The presentation and questioning will last for 30 minutes. This includes a presentation lasting typically 10 minutes and questioning lasting typically 20 minutes.
The independent assessor has the discretion to increase the time of both the presentation and the questioning by up to 10% to allow the apprentice to complete their last point.
The independent assessor must ask questions. The purpose of the questioning is to explore aspects of the presentation given by the apprentice and will assess the apprentice’s depth of understanding, skills and behaviours.
The questions will be drawn from a question bank supplied by the EPAO, but the independent assessor may generate their own questions pertinent to the scenario test and presentation. This must be in-line with the EPAO’s training and moderation process.
Questions must be asked after the practical. The total duration of the practical is 3 hours and the time for questioning is included in the overall assessment time. The total time for the practical element is 2.5 hours. The time allocated for the presentation and questioning is 30 minutes.
The independent assessor must ask at least 5 questions. The independent assessor must use the questions from their EPAO’s question bank or create their own questions in-line with the EPAO’s training.
The independent assessor can ask follow-up questions to clarify answers given by the apprentice. These questions are in addition to the above set number of questions for the scenario test - presentation and questioning and should be kept to a minimum..
The independent assessor must keep accurate records of the assessment. They must record:
The independent assessor must make the grading decision. The practical assessment and responses to questions must be assessed holistically by the independent assessor when they are deciding the grade.
The scenario test - presentation and questioning will take place online or in a suitable environment selected by the EPAO (for example the EPAO’s or employer’s premises). Resources needed (for example, the brief and subsequent information) for the scenario test - presentation and questioning must be provided by the EPAO.
The scenario test - presentation and questioning should take place online and/or in an environment, free from distractions and influence.
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 should maintain the security and confidentiality of EPA materials when consulting 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 scenario test - presentation and questioning:
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.
The apprentice can refer to and illustrate their answers with evidence from their portfolio of evidence.
This assessment method is being used because: it enable synoptic assessment of knowledge, skills and behaviours. this method also helps to assess apprentices in depth understanding of their work and covers aspects of the occupation that are difficult to observe and take place in restricted and confidential settings.
This is a consistent method that applies across work settings in the industry. It also replicates the approach taken to recruitment and reviewing candidate performance used in industry.
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 authenticate evidence, experience and competence and check underpinned knowledge and understanding
The EPAO must give an apprentice 10 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 last for 60 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 independent assessor must ask at least 9 questions. The independent assessor must use the questions from the EPAO’s question bank.
The independent assessor must make the grading decision.
The independent assessor must keep accurate records of the assessment. They must record:
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.
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 should 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:
The EPAO must ensure that the EPA materials are subject to quality assurance procedures including standardisation and moderation.
Performance in the EPA determines the overall grade of:
An independent assessor must individually grade the scenario test - presentation and questioning and professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence in line with this EPA plan.
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. To achieve an overall EPA ‘pass,’ the apprentice must achieve a pass in both assessment methods. To achieve an overall EPA 'merit', the apprentice must achieve a 'pass' in either assessment method and a 'distinction' in either assessment method. To achieve an overall EPA ‘distinction,’ the apprentice must achieve a pass in either assessment method and distinction in either assessment method
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 2 months 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.
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.
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 EPA grade of pass for a re-sit or re-take, unless the EPAO determines there are exceptional circumstances.
The EPAO must have reasonable adjustments arrangements for the EPA.
This should include:
Adjustments 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 must have in place to ensure valid, consistent and reliable EPA decisions.
EPAOs for this EPA must adhere to the requirements within the roles and responsibilities table.
They must also appoint independent assessors who:
have technical skills and experience in production management and have held a position above the role of a production assistant (screen and audio)
have substantial and relevant industry experience of which at least 12 months should have been within the last 3 years, and maintain their cpd
Affordability of the EPA will be aided by using at least some of the following:
This apprenticeship is not aligned to professional recognition.
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | End-point assessment plan revised. | 20/06/2023 | Not set |
| 1.1 | End-point assessment plan, funding and standard revised | 07/09/2022 | 19/06/2023 |
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 24/06/2016 | 06/09/2022 |
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