Best Practice Network (BPN) has joined forces with the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL) to provide end-point assessment services for the School Business Professional Level 4 Apprenticeship from September 2019.

End-point assessment (EPA) is the assessment process for the new apprenticeship standards in England, developed by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education to raise the quality of apprenticeships by responding to the needs of employers.

EPA providers carry out rigorous independent end-point assessments that are essential to give employers confidence that apprentices completing an apprenticeship standard can actually perform in the occupation they have been trained in and can demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the occupational standard.

ISBL will support BPN in the design and development of resources, assessor recruitment and training, the delivery of assessments and the quality assurance of all aspects of the service.

Bethan Cullen, Operations Director at ISBL said: “There had been a reticence for employers to start apprentices on the new SBP apprentice, without an end-point assessment organisation available, so we are delighted that our partnership with BPN will provide confidence to the sector to use and benefit from this new apprenticeship programme.”

The partners will work nationally with lead assessors in each of the nine government office regions, prioritising local assessment opportunities for apprentices and holding face-to-face assessments at the employers setting and assessment centre days wherever possible.

BPN’s end-point assessment team includes Val Andrew, a fellow of ISBL and former ASCL Business Leadership Specialist. Val is a highly experienced assessor, moderator of SBM qualifications and recipient of the 2018 ISBL CEO award for exceptional contributions to the profession.

Dean Boyce, Director of CPD and Accreditation at BPN said: “We’re delighted to be appointed as an end-point assessment organisation for this apprenticeship qualification in partnership with ISBL, and to have the expert support of Val Andrew.”

BPN is an experienced national provider of the Diploma for School Business Leaders qualification at levels 4 and 5 alongside its work providing professional development for schools, academies and a range of educational settings, including accredited National Professional Qualifications for school leaders.

Further information on BPN’s end-point assessment services is available by contacting 0117 920 9200/epa@bestpracticenet.co.uk.