External quality assurance of apprenticeships - expanded role for Ofqual confirmed
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education has confirmed the change after consultation.

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education has today (4 August 2020) which confirm the arrangements to simplify the External Quality Assurance (EQA) of apprenticeship End Point Assessments.
Under the new arrangements, EQA will be delivered by Ofqual and the Office for Students, in alignment with the Instituteâs framework.
Sally Collier, Chief Regulator, Ofqual, said: âWe welcome the decision to expand our role in the provision of EQA for apprenticeship End Point Assessments, and look forward to building on our existing approach.
âWe will act on the feedback from the Instituteâs consultation, and ensure that we proactively engage with end point assessment organisations (EPAOs) so that they understand our requirements.
âWe welcome the opportunity to workâ¯in partnershipâ¯with professional bodiesâ¯through the new arrangements, and we value the perspective and insight that occupational expertise brings. Drawing on thisâ¯is something we have been doing successfully across a range ofâ¯qualifications for some time.
âWe hope that the new arrangements will provide clarity and consistency for EPAOs and increase confidence in the apprenticeship system.â
The transfer of additional EQAâ¯delivery to Ofqual will â¯mean some changes for EPAOs. Those who are not yet regulated will need to apply for recognition, and those who are already recognised will need to agree their increased range of regulated EPAs. We will contact EPAOs shortly to explain how and when they should apply.
There will be a transition period of 2 years as we implement these changes. We will work closely with the Institute, Open Awards and the other EQA providers through this period, building carefully on the work that they have done to-date to ensure a smooth handover process.
More information about our EQA approach.