My son made me think differently on apprenticeship assessment

Bear with me. This piece is about reforms to apprenticeship assessment – currently one of the hottest topics in the sector. But I need to start somewhere else entirely.

We’re all encouraged not to take work home with us, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. As a dad to triplet teenagers (yes, the early years were tough), I always knew my limited IAG (information, advice and guidance) skills would eventually be put to the test. Last year was the pinnacle. After much debate, we hit the full FE house: one chose A-levels, one opted for a vocational programme, and one embarked on an apprenticeship. Bingo.

What I hadn’t fully appreciated was just how different each assessment experience would be. I’m no expert on A-levels or vocational qualifications, but I do know apprenticeships. And seeing the reality of a learning model that is effectively 100 per cent assessed – often through multiple and sometimes duplicative methods – hits differently when viewed through your own offspring’s eyes.

For my apprentice son, the scale and timing of assessment is daunting. At the end of his four-year programme, he’ll be expected to recall knowledge and demonstrate skills first learned almost four years earlier against an assessment plan stretching to 38 pages.

Add three separate assessment formats, and the challenge becomes obvious. For a young person or a busy employee, it’s a high-stakes experience that creates significant stress. For those who fall at the final hurdle, the personal and financial cost is huge.

There must be a better way. I welcomed the introduction of end-point assessment. For too long, some assessments had become tick-box exercises, and the meaning of a genuine pass was diluted. Rigour and employer ownership were rightly the buzzwords of the time.

Government has listened, and through the expert provider group, I’ve played a small part in shaping change. Our ability to influence reform feels stronger than ever.

Looking at the current proposals, rigour hasn’t been lost. If anything, the sector deserves credit for developing a refreshed approach that keeps the core principles while tackling unintended consequences. Stagnation was an option, but it wouldn’t have addressed the problems we face.

So, what exactly am I welcoming in this new era?

First, a more flexible and proportionate assessment design. This aligns apprenticeships more closely with other qualifications, reduces duplication and introduces milestone achievements that formally recognise progress. This alone will boost motivation and relieve some of the unnecessary pressure created by years of back-loaded assessment.

Second, deeper employer involvement. Our network of more than 950 employers invests heavily in apprentices, and wants to play a meaningful role in recognising their development. Readiness for assessment is already a major conversation within our organisation, and employers are well placed to judge it. Their message is clear: they want to contribute more, not less.

Third, simplified and more focused assessment plans. This isn’t about diluting quality; it’s about concentrating on what truly matters. Single assessment methods, with flexibility to expand when required, can create a more holistic and realistic picture of competence. Greater use of technology is also a clear win.

Quality sits at the heart of what we do here in Exeter, and we’re proud of our delivery and outcomes. We want to play a greater role in assessing our learners, and we want awarding bodies to remain deeply involved. That balance – provider expertise, employer insight and awarding-body oversight – will underpin high-quality results. If that means taking on additional regulatory responsibility, so be it. In most other areas of education, that’s already the norm.

Will my son be any less qualified or competent because of these changes? No. Apprentices and employers deserve an assessment system that recognises progress, reduces unnecessary barriers and maintains the integrity of the qualification and the skills needed to thrive and be safe. These reforms move us closer to that goal.

I read with interest the concerns raised by employers and awarding bodies. There are solutions to the challenges of change, and collaboration will be key.  I hope Skills England matches the sector’s appetite by sharing more detail and setting out a clearer timeline for the reforms ahead.

Speaking as both a provider and a parent, change can’t come soon enough.