Abingdon & Witney College

Abingdon & Witney College is a leading further education provider in Oxfordshire, offering a wide range of academic, vocational, and apprenticeship programmes. The college prides itself on building strong employer partnerships and delivering real-world learning that prepares students for successful careers. The college works closely with EAL, using both qualifications and End Point Assessment (EPA) services to support its apprenticeship provision in engineering and technical sectors.

When apprenticeship standards were introduced, Abingdon & Witney College needed to find the right end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) to complement its existing qualifications delivery. Already working with EAL in other areas, the college found it logical to build on this established relationship.

Through an initial meeting, the college and EAL mapped out needs and agreed a proposal that provided confidence from the outset. The process was quick and easy, with regular catchups ensuring the partnership remained responsive and collaborative.

Choosing EAL as both a qualifications provider and EPAO meant apprentices benefited from a streamlined journey with fewer handovers. Staff also avoided the burden of learning new systems, as EAL’s processes were already familiar and trusted.

The college particularly values the responsiveness of EAL’s EPA operations team:

“Whenever I’ve contacted the EPA team with general queries or issues with bookings, I’ve always had a quick response. I don’t need to chase anything, and I always hear back quickly.”

The use of ACE360 to process EPAs has further improved efficiency, reducing administration and supporting a smooth experience for learners and staff alike. Regular business catchups with EAL’s team have also made it simple to plan for future needs.

Abingdon and Witney College plans to continue its partnership with EAL as apprenticeship standards evolve, expanding into new engineering areas where EAL’s expertise will be key.

“Overall, I’m very happy with the service and turnaround times. The key thing is that I always know who to go to, and any issues are sorted quickly. It’s reassuring to know the support team is there – and often I don’t even need to contact anyone, because everything runs so smoothly.”