Reformed Apprenticeship Standards
Reformed apprenticeship standards, introduced by Skills England, provide greater flexibility in how occupational competence is assessed while maintaining robust, valid, and reliable assessment.
Assessment is now more closely aligned to normal workplace practice and may take place when an apprentice has demonstrated readiness, rather than only at the end of the apprenticeship.
The assessment requirements for each apprenticeship are defined within the published assessment plan and will vary depending on the occupation. The reform approach places a greater emphasis on apprentices demonstrating occupational competence and allows assessments to be more closely aligned to the workplace.
Understanding models for apprenticeship standards
Unlike previous apprenticeship standards, there is no single assessment model. Some apprenticeships require an apprenticeship assessment alongside an occupational qualification, while some are qualification-only, and others have no separate qualification, with occupational competence being demonstrated entirely through the apprenticeship assessment. TQUK supports all three models, ensuring centres, employers, and apprentices clearly understand the requirements of the individual standard.
Where a qualification forms part of an apprenticeship, it should work alongside the apprenticeship assessment to support the apprentice's journey and minimise unnecessary duplication of assessment. While the qualification may provide evidence of achievement in specific areas, the apprenticeship assessment ensures that all knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) required by the occupational standard have been demonstrated, including any elements not fully covered by the qualification.
Occupational qualification
Some apprenticeship standards include an occupational qualification that must be achieved alongside the apprenticeship assessment. Others are qualification only, while some do not include a separate qualification, with occupational competence demonstrated solely through the apprenticeship assessment.
Where an occupational qualification forms part of an apprenticeship, the qualification and apprenticeship assessment should operate cohesively to support the apprentice's overall learning and development.
Assessment arrangements should be designed to minimise unnecessary duplication, enabling evidence generated through the qualification to contribute, where appropriate, to the demonstration of competence.
The apprenticeship assessment may also evaluate additional knowledge, skills, and behaviours that are not fully covered by the qualification, ensuring that the apprentice can demonstrate the full occupational competence required by the apprenticeship standard.
TQUK Models for Apprenticeship Assessment
To reflect the flexibility introduced through apprenticeship reform, TQUK offers two delivery models that allow centres to choose the level of support that best suits their experience, resources, and operational needs.
TQUK Together
TQUK Together is a collaborative assessment model built on shared responsibility between TQUK and the training provider. Under this approach, centres play an active role in delivering an element of the apprenticeship assessment where permitted by the published assessment plan and regulatory requirements, while TQUK provides governance, quality assurance, training, standardisation, moderation, and final oversight.
This model enables providers to integrate assessment more naturally into the apprentice's learning journey while benefiting from TQUK's expertise, systems, and quality assurance processes. It offers greater flexibility while maintaining confidence that assessment decisions remain valid, reliable and consistent.
While TQUK Together provides centres with greater flexibility in the delivery of permitted assessment activities, responsibility for maintaining assessment quality remains firmly governed through TQUK's independent oversight, quality assurance, and standardisation processes. These arrangements ensure that assessment decisions are valid, reliable, fair, and consistent, providing confidence that increased flexibility does not compromise the integrity or credibility of assessment outcomes.
TQUK Managed
TQUK Managed provides a fully managed assessment service for centres that prefer TQUK to oversee and deliver the assessment process from beginning to end. TQUK coordinates assessment planning, assessor allocation, quality assurance, moderation, grading, certification, and administration, allowing providers to focus on delivering high-quality training and supporting apprentices.
TQUK Managed reduces the administrative burden for centres by enabling a more streamlined approach to assessment delivery. This allows centres to focus on their core role of providing high-quality training, supporting apprentices and developing occupational competence, while TQUK manages and oversees the assessment journey. Through robust governance, quality assurance, and standardisation arrangements, TQUK Managed also ensures that assessment decisions remain valid, reliable, fair, and consistent, providing confidence in the integrity of assessment outcomes while reducing operational complexity for centres.
This model is particularly suited to organisations that are new to apprenticeship delivery, have lower assessment volumes, or prefer a fully outsourced assessment solution.
Assessment requirements
Each apprenticeship standard contains its own assessment plan, meaning assessment methods will differ across occupations. Depending on the standard, apprentices may complete practical observations, professional discussions, interviews, projects, presentations, case studies, knowledge tests or other assessment activities.
TQUK provides standard-specific guidance explaining the assessment methods, assessment conditions, employer involvement, and evidence requirements applicable to each apprenticeship.
Some apprenticeship standards include a mandatory occupational qualification, while others are qualification-only or assess occupational competence entirely through the apprenticeship assessment. Where a qualification forms part of the apprenticeship, it should complement the apprenticeship assessment and support the apprentice's overall learning journey.
The qualification can provide evidence of achievement against elements of the standard, while the apprenticeship assessment confirms that the apprentice has demonstrated the full range of knowledge, skills, and behaviours required for occupational competence.
This approach helps to minimise any unnecessary duplication of assessments, ensuring that any additional requirements are assessed only where they are not already fully evidenced through the qualification.
Supporting centres through reform
Our aim is to make reform easier to understand, implement, and deliver, giving centres the flexibility they need while maintaining the independence, validity, and reliability of assessment. Through robust quality assurance, expert guidance, and ongoing support, TQUK provides centres with the confidence, consistency, and compliance they can rely on.
Regardless of the delivery model selected, TQUK provides comprehensive guidance, onboarding resources, and ongoing support to ensure employers, providers, and apprentices understand their responsibilities. This includes standard-specific guidance, assessment documentation, assessor support, quality assurance arrangements, and access to advice throughout the assessment journey.
Where centres are permitted to deliver assessment activities, TQUK retains overall responsibility for assessment integrity. Independence is maintained through clear separation of delivery, assessment, and quality assurance roles, supported by external quality assurance and ongoing monitoring.
Validity is ensured by requiring assessment methods and evidence to align directly with qualification requirements, learning outcomes, and assessment criteria. Reliability is achieved through standardised assessment practices, assessor competence requirements, internal quality assurance, and external quality assurance sampling and review.
This enables centres to deliver assessment flexibly while ensuring assessment decisions remain fair, consistent, and nationally comparable.
Whether working together through a shared delivery model or choosing a fully managed service, TQUK's aim is to provide a proportionate, compliant, and high-quality assessment experience that reflects the principles of apprenticeship reform while giving centres the flexibility to choose the approach that best meets their needs.