Level 7 Academic Professional Apprenticeship
For early-career academics who support learning and contribute to teaching across higher education institutions.
We assess across two role options:
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Teaching Specialist
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Research Specialist
Why this matters
Learners who complete this assessment are eligible for professional recognition as Fellows of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) – a powerful career credential and marker of teaching quality.
What you can expect from us
Assessors with real experience in higher education
A calm, confident process built around your programme
Clear academic alignment and structured support
Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant
For those working across primary, secondary, or specialist education settings – supporting pupils in reaching their full potential, academically and personally.
Why this matters
Specialist Teaching Assistants provide individualised support, nurture learning, and reinforce inclusive teaching strategies. This assessment recognises their impact and formalises their contribution as skilled education professionals.
What you can expect from us
Clear guidance for learners, mentors, and providers
Assessors who understand educational contexts
A supportive and timely assessment experience
Level 4 Learning and Skills Mentor
For professionals who guide, support, and develop learners in the workplace – typically in vocational, technical, or apprenticeship contexts.
Why this matters
Mentors are the bridge between learning and doing. This assessment recognises their role in helping learners apply skills, navigate challenges, and stay on track to succeed. For institutions, it ensures mentors are not only effective but formally recognised for the value they bring.
What you can expect from us
Designed for busy professionals
Realistic scenarios and focused evaluation
Smooth delivery from start to finish
Level 3 Teaching Assistant
For aspiring or current teaching assistants working in primary, secondary or special education settings.
Why this matters
Teaching Assistants are a vital presence in every classroom. This assessment gives them the chance to demonstrate their skills, formalise their experience, and gain a respected qualification that supports career progression in education.
What you can expect from us
Empathetic approach
Clear timelines and requirements
No jargon, no stress – just good assessment done well
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We’ve designed our assessment process to serve everyone involved
Learners deserve clarity, support, and a fair experience, not confusion or uncertainty.
Training providers need a process that aligns with their delivery, reduces admin pressure, and builds confidence in outcomes.
Employers expect assessment to reflect real skills and workplace readiness, not just meet minimum requirements.
WHY OUR PARTNERS TRUST US
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We’re fast to respond.
Easy to work with.
And deeply committed to quality.
That’s why our approach puts communication, care, and quality at the centre, for everyone involved.
HOW WE WORK WITH YOU
We’re an Assessment Organisation, but we act like a partner.
Our approach is simple and supportive:
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Discovery & Alignment
We take time to understand your programme, your values, your learners, and what success looks like to you.
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Assessment Planning
We work closely with your team to align on expectations, timelines, and key touch-points, creating a smooth, no-surprises process that supports learner readiness.
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Delivery & Feedback
Our experienced assessors deliver fair, consistent assessment against each standard, providing objective, timely feedback aligned with the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs).
We hold structured review meetings with provider teams after assessments to support continuous improvement and provide valuable evidence that helps providers meet the expectations of their own regulators.
It’s a process designed to build learner confidence, reduce pressure on tutors, support provider quality, and give employers meaningful outcomes they can trust.
The assessors, who maintain professional connections with practice, research, and contemporary education, have been highly effective at supporting learners to demonstrate achievement of the KSBs creatively and innovatively.
Dr Sophie Cole
Assistant Professor, Department: Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing at Northumbria University Newcastle
I have worked with many Assessment providers, but Melanie and her team are the most supportive and empathetic to the work that we are doing with our apprenticeship programme. They have been there every step of the way to provide advice and guidance on the Assessment process.
Dr Katy Hensby
Senior Curriculum Head of Teacher Training and Community Learning South Devon College
From an administrative perspective, we felt very supported by the team. The team's approach is friendly and relaxed which really works for us.
Rebecca Aydin, Senior Programme Officer
University of Lincoln
On the day of my assessment, my assessor delivered a well-informed introduction, setting clear expectations and providing ample opportunity for me to ask questions. Throughout the conversation, the assessor was professional and supportive, allowing me sufficient time to respond to each question while staying true to the agreed structure.
Chloe Dennis-Green, Apprentice and Lecturer in Youth Work and Communities at Birmingham City University
The team demonstrates a deep understanding of the complexities involved in Assessment, recognising the challenges that learners, employers and providers may face. What sets them apart is their unwavering commitment to providing a distinctive, customer-focused experience within the Assessment sector.
Harprit Kaur, Assistant Director for Teaching and Learning
Birmingham City University
The team uphold the highest standards in the quality assurance of their practice which gives us complete confidence in them. They communicate with us openly and regularly and have provided a high level of support to us and our apprentices in navigating what is a difficult and highly stressful element of the provision for all.
Dr Kelly Sisson
Associate Professor, Head of Academic Development at the University of Lincoln
I have worked with many Assessment providers, but Melanie and her team are the most supportive and empathetic to the work that we are doing with our apprenticeship programme. They have been there every step of the way to provide advice and guidance on the Assessment process.
Dr Katy Hensby
Senior Curriculum Head of Teacher Training and Community Learning South Devon College
I would highly recommend the team for anyone who is unsure or new to apprenticeships and the gateway and Assessment journey, the team could not have been more helpful and I look forward to working with them again soon.
Tina Smee
Assessor Coach Initial Teacher Education
at South Devon College
I am extremely grateful for the support I received from my assessor throughout the Professional Conversation process. They were friendly and approachable, which helped me feel as relaxed as possible.
Ella Reynolds
Apprentice and Programme Coordinator and Lead for Nursing Professions South Devon College
Meet Mel Feek
Mel, our Founder and CEO, has spent years working closely with learners, training providers, and employers, seeing the challenges they face: unclear guidance, inconsistent processes, and the pressures assessments can create.
Elevate was founded with a simple goal: make assessment less of a barrier and more of a meaningful, supportive process.
Today, that philosophy guides everything we do:
We listen first, to understand the real challenges learners, training providers, and employers face
We provide equal support to learners, training providers, and employers, helping ease the pressure on your teams
We combine professionalism and empathy to deliver assessments that are fair, clear, and confident
Our Philosophy
Clarity. Confidence. Credibility.
That’s what Elevate brings to every assessment we deliver.
We’re proud to partner with training providers and employers who want more than just compliance – they want to create an experience that truly supports their learners, with honesty and integrity at its core.
Whether you’re working with one cohort or managing a larger programme, we walk alongside you to build a straightforward, encouraging journey, so learners feel ready, confident, and proud of their success.
WHAT WE DO
Excellence in Professional Assessment – without the stress.
We’re an Assessment Organisation (AO) partnering with training providers and employers across England. Our assessments are designed to be fair, supportive, and rigorous – so your learners feel valued, and your programmes can stand out with confidence.
Our current standards
Each of the following assessments are designed for quality, learner confidence, and industry relevance.