The document discusses ensuring independence in apprenticeship assessment. It recommends working with an independent third-party assessment body or including an independent representative on assessment panels to avoid potential bias. It also suggests external moderation of assessments by experts to check that standards are applied consistently over time. The goal is to have impartial assessments for apprentices that guarantee quality and maintain standards.

2. Trailblazers
Ensuring Independence in Assessment

3. The Future of Apprenticeships in England
‘It is vital that all apprentices are assessed in a
fair and objective manner. Independence and
impartiality are critical to ensure quality
assessment and to ensure the standard is
maintained over time.’

4. Independence and impartiality
Be clear about what independence looks like
Good assessment criteria:
• allow judgements to be open, transparent and
consistent
• provide benchmarks to ensure consistency of
judgements over time

5. Ways to achieve independence
• Work with an independent third-party
assessment body
• Include an independent representative on the
panel for assessment
• External moderation of assessment, by
assessment experts or other employers

6. Third-party assessment body
• Third party takes on the responsibility
• Experience and expertise in assessment
• Standardisation
• Externalises costs

7. Independent representative
• What does the role consist of?
• What expertise would the person have:
assessment expertise
technical competence
professional knowledge?
• How would they be ‘paid’?
• How would they be chosen?

8. Assessment by a panel
• Balance of skills and expertise
• Weighting of decisions taken by each
person
• Disagreements
• ‘No party involved in delivery can make the
sole decision on competence’
• Costs

9. How would the panel work?
• Professional interview and discussion?
• Would members assess different aspects?
• Has the apprentice experience been considered?

10. External moderation
• Looks at:
application of standards by assessors
consistency of judgements
• Can establish whether assessment decisions
are being made impartially and are consistent
over time
• Cost, expertise, training and recruitment

11. Getting it right
• What independence means in a particular
industry
• Clear guidelines on assessment standards
• Training for all
• Communications strategy

12. Further advice and guidance
• Contact SQA’s Trailblazer team:
Telephone: 0303 333 0330
E-mail: ukskills@sqa.org.uk
www.sqa.org.uk/trailblazers