17th Jan 2025
We are proud to share that Abingdon & Witney College are amongst the first colleges in England to successfully get apprentices through their End Point Assessments for the latest versions of three apprenticeship standards:
End Point Assessments (EPA) are final evaluations that assess apprentices' knowledge and competence at the end of their apprenticeship programme. The EPA is a key element in ensuring that apprentices are ready to progress to full employment or further qualifications.
This milestone achievement at the end of last year is a testament to the success of the team at Bicester Construction Skills Centre, helping apprentices prepare for and complete this assessment in the bespoke apprenticeship training facility that opened in 2021. The Centre is dedicated to the construction trades and the team work with some of the very best apprentice employers in Oxfordshire and beyond. Staffed by industry experts, the Centre houses the type of industry-standard equipment that apprentices will find in the workplace, including a professional gas centre and a large carpentry workshop.
We reached out to a couple of the apprentices to reach EPA on the latest standards, to find out about their experience:
Henry, a Carpentry apprentice at Dorchester Living, shared:
“The staff at Bicester are very good... I can always find someone to help me and they’re always very happy to assist me... I’ve gained communication skills, and my confidence has improved a lot. I also really enjoyed learning to use hand tools at college, it allowed me to learn the foundations of being a skilled Site Carpenter and learn to pay attention to detail which meant I was better equipped when going on to site and using power tools.”
Max, one of the Joinery apprentices with Lloyd Woodworking, told us:
“I thought the staff were brilliant. The course was well managed, and everything flowed well. I was given a lot of help with the coursework, which is sometimes the hardest part, and if there was anything I didn’t understand, they were able to explain it well.”
Max’s employer added:
“We struggled to work with a decent college for many years. Bicester has been a massive asset to us because now we take a new apprentice on every year, due to the quality of apprentices they provide and the support they give to us as employers."
The carpentry apprenticeships are accredited by NOCN, a leading End Point Assessment Organisation, who work with the College and employers to ensure that all apprentices have the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for the new employer-led apprenticeship standards.
Simon Lewis, Head of Apprenticeships, NOCN, shared:
"We are thrilled to celebrate the Bicester Centre’s achievement in providing proactive teaching, learning, support and guidance for apprentices in preparation for their End-Point Assessment. Their dedication to excellence, innovation, and the advancement of learners, supported by strong employer collaboration, exemplifies the creation of a future-fit workforce. This milestone highlights the efforts to champion trades and professions that meet the evolving demands of industry. Together, we are shaping the future of skilled craftsmanship."
If you would like to find out more about Construction apprenticeships at Abingdon & Witney College then head to our Apprenticeship pages or call the team today on 01235 216 216.
As well as Carpentry, Joinery and Property Maintenance, our Bicester Centre also offers apprenticeships in Plumbing & Heating. Our Abingdon campus now also offers apprenticeships in Electrical Installation and Maintenance and Construction Site Supervisor.
