What has changed?
The Senior Leader review has resulted in an updated standard and assessment plan. Within the standard, the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) have been updated and occupational duties have been introduced. The number of assessment methods remains unchanged, so the end-point assessment and still contains two distinct assessment methods.
Delivery of the apprenticeship has been made more flexible with the removal of the Master's Degree as a mandated part of the apprenticeship, although an employer would still be free to use such a qualification to deliver the apprenticeship, so long as it aligns to the KSBs. Apart from registration and certification costs, these would still be fundable under the levy up to the funding band limit. For up-to-date funding rules, please ensure to refer to the latest funding guidance.
The funding band was reviewed as a result of these changes and the minister for apprenticeships and skills has now agreed a final funding band of £14,000, compared to £18,000 for the current version of the apprenticeship. The new version of the apprenticeship is approved for delivery and will be available for new starts in place of the current version from 29 March 2021.
Supporting documents
Download the Senior Leader Apprenticeship Assessment Plan
Download our guide to the Senior Leader Apprenticeship Standard
Download the EPA Pack and recording forms by logging into Walled Garden (existing customers only)
Please contact your Walled Garden administrator for login details. You can also download these documents from EPA Pro.
What is involved in the new Level 7 End-point assessment (EPA)?
The EPA consists of 2 discrete assessment methods:
- Strategic Business Proposal, Presentation, Questioning
- Professional Discussion, underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
The EPA will be completed within an EPA period typically lasting 5 months, which will commence once we have confirmed that all gateway requirements have been met.
EPA gateway
The apprentice should only enter the gateway once the employer is satisfied that the apprentice is working at or above the occupational standard. In making this decision, the employer may take advice from the apprentice’s training provider(s), but the decision must ultimately be made solely by the employer.
ILM will confirm when all gateway requirements have been met, and the EPA period will only start once we have confirmed this. In addition to the employer’s confirmation that the apprentice is working at or above the level of the occupational standard, the apprentice must also complete the following gateway requirements prior to starting EPA:
- Achieved English and mathematics Level 2. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and mathematics minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. British Sign Language (BSL) qualifications are an alternative to English qualifications for those who have BSL as their primary language.
- For the strategic business proposal, presentation with questioning:
- The strategic business proposal’s subject, title and scope will be agreed between the employer and the Independent ILM Assessor at the gateway.
- A brief summary will be required (of no more than 500 words) outlining the details of the strategic business proposal.
- We will sign-off the strategic business proposal’s title and scope to confirm its suitability at the gateway.
- For the professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence, the apprentice will be required to submit:
The portfolio of evidence is not directly assessed. It underpins the professional discussion and therefore will not be marked. The Independent ILM Assessor will review the portfolio of evidence in preparation for the professional discussion but will not provide feedback after this review.
Assessment method 1: Strategic business proposal, presentation and questions & answers
Apprentices will produce a strategic business proposal and presentation. The strategic business proposal and presentation will be carried out after the apprentice has gone through the gateway.
A strategic business proposal involves the apprentice completing a relevant and defined piece of work that has a real business benefit. Apprentices will prepare and deliver a presentation that, along with the strategic business proposal, appropriately covers the KSBs assigned to this method of assessment. It will be followed by questioning from the Independent ILM assessor.
The strategic business proposal’s word limit will be 4,000 words (+/- 10% at the apprentice’s discretion) excluding tables, graphs, figures, references and annexes. 4,000 words is reflective of the real world that senior leaders work in and aligns with this role’s demands. It will also ensure that the KSBs aligned to this assessment method can be evidenced appropriately. The apprentice will have 12 weeks to write and submit the strategic business proposal and presentation, following the ILM’s approval of the strategic business proposal’s scope and title.
Presentation delivery
The presentation must be submitted at the same time as the strategic business proposal, 12 weeks after the gateway. The independent ILM assessor should have two weeks to review the strategic business proposal prior to the presentation.
The presentation and questioning will take 60 minutes. The independent ILM assessor has the discretion to increase the time of the presentation and questioning by up to 10% to allow the apprentice to complete their last answer. The presentation will typically last for 20 minutes, and the questioning will typically last for 40 minutes. The discretionary additional 10% time can be allocated in any proportion across the presentation and questioning.
Assessment method 2: Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
This assessment will be in the form of a professional discussion, which will be appropriately structured to best reflect the apprentice’s competence and excellence and cover the KSBs assigned to this assessment method.
A professional discussion is a two-way discussion between the Independent ILM Assessor and the apprentice to assess the apprentice’s in-depth understanding of their work. The professional discussion should be led by the apprentice but involves both the Independent ILM Assessor and the apprentice actively listening and participating in a formal conversation. The Independent ILM Assessor will give the apprentice the opportunity to make detailed and proactive contributions to confirm their competency across the KSBs assigned to this method.
Professional discussion delivery
The underpinning portfolio is submitted at gateway and must evidence all of the KSBs mapped to this assessment method. The Independent ILM Assessor can use the contents of the portfolio to identify discussion areas for the professional discussion. The apprentice will be encouraged to refer to their portfolio of evidence during the professional discussion to support their responses.
The professional discussion will last 60 minutes. The Independent ILM Assessor has the discretion to increase the time of the professional discussion by up to 10% to allow the apprentice to complete their last answer. Further time may be granted for apprentices with appropriate needs, in accordance with our Reasonable Adjustments Policy.
How is the assessment graded?
To achieve a pass overall, the apprentice must achieve a pass in both assessment methods by meeting all the pass grading descriptors.
To achieve a distinction overall, the apprentice must achieve a distinction in both assessment methods by achieving all pass criteria and all distinction criteria.
Grades from individual assessment methods will be combined in the following way to determine the overall grade of the EPA.
|
Assessment method 1
Strategic business proposal, presentation with questioning
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Assessment method 2
Professional Discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
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Overall grading
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Fail
|
Fail
|
Fail
|
|
Pass
|
Fail
|
Fail
|
|
Fail
|
Pass
|
Fail
|
|
Distinction
|
Fail
|
Fail
|
|
Fail
|
Distinction
|
Fail
|
|
Pass
|
Pass
|
Pass
|
|
Distinction
|
Pass
|
Pass
|
|
Pass
|
Distinction
|
Pass
|
|
Distinction
|
Distinction
|
Distinction
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What is required at Gateway?
- Sign-off the strategic business proposal’s title and scope
- Gateway declaration form
- Portfolio of evidence
- Portfolio Evidence Matrix
- Evidence of English and maths
How much does the EPA service cost?
For information on the cost of our End Point Assessment Service for the Senior Leader Apprenticeship Standard, please refer to this guide to fees document.
