Apprenticeship assessment plan update – Autumn 2025

As part of the national reform of apprenticeship assessment, several key developments are underway:

Timelines & key milestones

Autumn 2025:

• The first five assessment plans are due for release
• A companion guidance document will be published to support implementation
• Ofqual’s technical consultation will also be launched.

Spring 2026:

Outcomes from Ofqual’s full consultation will be implemented.

Future releases:

• The next 50 assessment plans are still to be announced
• Skills England remains committed to publishing all standards by August 2026.

What we know so far

• Standards remain unchanged; only the assessment plans are being revised
• Each plan will include one stipulated assessment method, with additional methods selected from a list of suitable options
• Employer validation of behaviours will be required. These behaviours will not be assessed by the assessment organisation
• Not all Knowledge and Skills need to be covered in every assessment. However, as an assessment organisation, our suite of assessments will ensure full coverage over time
• The situation regarding mandated qualifications for new standards is still unclear. For existing standards, if a mandatory qualification sufficiently covers the KSBs, it will become the sole assessment method
• The ESFA register of approved EPAOs is being restructured. Instead of listing by individual standards, it will now be organised by sector subject area (e.g., Engineering and Manufacturing).

Find out more