Regulatory framework for apprenticeship assessment - technical

Overview

Ofqual is the independent regulator for qualifications in England. Ofqual’s statutory objectives include securing the standards of, and promoting public confidence in, regulated qualifications. Our role is to steward the qualifications system, taking a whole system, long-term, proactive approach to protect the value of qualifications for students and apprentices and to support economic growth.

Ofqual’s rules, which awarding organisations must follow, are designed to achieve this. Ofqual monitors the application of these rules, supporting compliance and taking regulatory action where necessary.

Ofqual currently regulates the assessment of more than 580 apprenticeship Occupational Standards, set by Skills England, including through specific rules in relation to end-point assessments (EPAs).

In February 2025, the Department for Education (DfE) published its Apprenticeship Assessment Principles. These principles set out a range of changes to the current EPA approach to assessment. They will apply to all apprenticeships, at all levels, including foundation apprenticeships.

Through its principles, DfE intends to streamline the assessment process for apprenticeships by enabling more design and delivery flexibility, so that:

• assessment is more proportionate to the competency being tested and duplication is removed
• there is greater flexibility around when assessment can take place during an apprenticeship training programme
• providers can deliver and mark elements of the assessment, with appropriate oversight by awarding organisations

Ofqual consulted between 20 June and 27 August 2025 on its proposed approach to regulating the new Apprenticeship Assessments. We have announced our decisions on our proposed regulatory approach, published alongside this consultation.

Why your views matter

The aim of this consultation is to provide an opportunity for interested groups to comment on the draft conditions, requirements and guidance through which we intend to put these policy decisions into effect and to regulate Apprenticeship Assessments.

Part 1 of the consultation seeks views on Ofqual’s proposed conditions and requirements, while Part 2 seeks views on Ofqual’s proposed statutory guidance.

All regulated awarding organisations have a legal obligation to comply with Ofqual’s rules, set out as conditions and requirements, on an ongoing basis.

Ofqual’s statutory guidance explains how to comply with our conditions and requirements. Awarding organisations must have regard to any statutory guidance when deciding how to comply with Ofqual’s conditions and requirements.

‘Have regard to’ means that awarding organisations must genuinely consider Ofqual guidance but can depart from it, provided they have proper and legitimate reasons for doing so.

In addition to seeking views on the proposed conditions, requirements and guidance, this consultation also seeks views on a small number of areas where we have made some changes to our proposed approach following the policy consultation. This includes revised general purposes, a revised definition for synoptic assessment, and a different way of describing the proportion of synoptic assessment and marking by the awarding organisation.

Ofqual aims to publish the final conditions, requirements and guidance in spring 2026.