Housing and Property Management L3

Facilitation of Assessment

DSW has always had a ‘digital by default’ approach to end-point assessment; this allows us to provide greater flexibility for all stakeholders while reducing fees and our carbon footprint.

• Interviews and presentations are conducted using web conferencing platforms and we’re flexible enough to use a platform of the employer’s choosing when required.
• Written exams, MCQs and Case Studies are carried out online using an invigilated assessment platform
• Portfolios and Projects are submitted to DSW in digital format for assessment
• Our assessments are also administered using an online platform, epaPRO, which provides training providers with access to results, reports and dashboards.

This is all supported by named account managers and operations contacts who are here to support you at each step of the EPA journey.

Assessment Methods

Work-Based Project

• Completion of a practical work-based project
• Apprentice may start project six months ahead of gateway
• Project Report
• Cannot be started until after gateway
• Describes and reflects on the project and the knowledge, skills and behaviours demonstrated
• Project Diary:
• Forms part of the Report
• Written over the course of the delivery stage of the project
• Details the progression of the apprentice while working on the project
• Maximum word count for the report (including Diary): 7,500 words

Presentation and Interview

• 15-minute presentation based on the project
• Presentation followed by 75-minute interview
• Questions will cover any assessment criteria not met in the project presentation

For more details, visit the IfATE website.

Grading

In addition to the 59 individual assessment criteria, the standard is also made up of 26 competencies. Each competency contains between one and five assessment criteria. The final grade is calculated by adding up the number of assessment criteria that have been Met, Not Met, or Exceeded within each competency area.

There are three grades available – fail, pass and distinction.

The grading is carried out in two stages, as follows.

Stage 1 – Scoring the Assessment Criteria

Each of the individual 59 assessment criteria will be graded as not met, met, or exceeded, based upon the descriptors provided in the amplification document (page 3).

Stage 2 – Scoring the Competencies

Each of the 26 competencies is given a grading based upon the number of assessment criteria which have been met, not met, or exceeded within that competency. As the number of criteria within each competency varies, a calculation is required to work out the score for each individual competency area:

Calculating the final grade

To achieve a pass, the apprentice must fully meet all 59 individual assessment criteria across both assessment methods.

To achieve a distinction, the apprentice must fully meet all the 59 individual assessment criteria and achieve an overall score of Exceeded in each of the 26 competency areas.

Benefits and Support

DSW is a leading EPAO trusted by some of the UK’s largest employers and apprenticeship training providers to assess apprentices across a portfolio of more than 35 standards.

We combine first-class customer support, leading assessment technology and assessment expertise to deliver an EPA experience which our clients tell us is unequalled.

Benefits include:

• Assessor allocated ahead of gateway to guarantee availability and fast turnaround
• Planning meeting scheduled within 1 working day of Gateway
• Results issued within 5 working days
• Competitive pricing, reduced resit fees and no registration fees
• Dedicated account manager and operations contact
• Quality-assured assessors with extensive sector and assessment experience
• Truly collaborative, partnership approach and dedicated DSW human touch support team
• Delivery of a great learner experience with flexibility to accommodate varied learner environments
• Support materials – Guides, toolkits, webinars and use of digital platforms make EPA efficient and easy
• Engaged with other EPAOs and sector bodies to lead the standardisation of assessment methods and raise professional standards