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School Business Professional
Level 4 (1.0)

The School Business Professional Apprenticeship End Point Assessment (EPA) Explained

As an Ofqual-recognised End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO), Elevate supports your School Business Professional apprenticeship End Point Assessment (EPA) needs. We provide practical assistance and clear guidance to ensure apprentices are well-prepared for their EPA success. Explore the details of this assessment below, or contact us for more information.

The School Business Professional (SBP) has a unique role within schools, focusing on the administration and management of financial, site, and support services. They provide crucial support to school leadership teams by implementing financial and business decisions. SBPs can work in various school phases, including primary, secondary, and special schools, and in different school structures, such as single academy trusts, multi-academy trusts (MATs), local-authority-maintained schools, and federations. Due to these diverse settings, SBPs may report to different figures, such as the headteacher or School Business Director (SBD).

Despite these variations, SBPs share a common set of responsibilities that shape their daily activities, making their role consistent across different schools. They are responsible for overseeing the administration and management of a school’s financial resources, as well as managing the site and support services to ensure the school operates smoothly and efficiently.

Professional Recognition: On successful completion, apprentices may choose to register as members with the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL), formerly operating as the National Association of School Business Management (NASBM).

Timeline: The School Business Professional Apprenticeship will typically take 18 months to complete with the end point assessment typically undertaken in the final 8 weeks of the apprenticeship.

For additional information about this apprenticeship, check out the School Business Professional Apprenticeship End Point Assessment Plan.

Assessment methods

Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio

In the discussion, the independent assessor and the apprentice have a formal two-way conversation.

The apprentice can refer to and illustrate their answers with evidence from their portfolio of evidence. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate their competency across the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) mapped to this EPA method.

Project with presentation and questioning

The project is a key part of the apprenticeship, where the apprentice completes a significant piece of work that benefits the business. It begins after the apprentice passes the gateway and is designed to showcase the skills, knowledge, and behaviours (KSBs) needed for their role.

The project should align with the employer's business needs and be relevant to the apprentice's job and training. The End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) must ensure the project allows the apprentice to demonstrate their KSBs to the highest possible standard, using grading criteria to set the right level.

This assessment method has two parts:

The project, including a project output.
A presentation followed by questions and answers.

Gateway

What does Gateway mean?

Gateway is a crucial stage that marks the transition from the on-program learning phase of an apprenticeship to the final assessment phase. It is the point where both the employer and the training provider agree that the apprentice has acquired the necessary knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) outlined in their apprenticeship standard and is ready to undertake the End Point Assessment (EPA). Gateway is essentially a readiness check, ensuring that the apprentice is prepared and has met all the prerequisites, such as achieving required qualifications, completing mandatory training and demonstrating competency in their role. This step is vital for setting up the apprentice for success in their final assessments.

To be all set for the EPA, School Business Professional apprentices need to meet these requirements:

Have achieved a minimum of Level 2 English and maths. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement the apprenticeship English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3 and British Sign Language qualification are an alternative to English qualifications for whom this is their primary language.

Completed all workplace learning and off-the-job training as evidence of the potential to demonstrate professional competence in relation to the required knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) of the standard. The apprentice should only be recommended for EPA when the employer is confident that the apprentice is occupationally competent and ready to undertake EPA.

Portfolio of learning, compiled during the on-programme period, with evidence demonstrating Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs).

Completion of the workplace project.

Fully remote and accessible

With Elevate, apprentices complete their End Point Assessment (EPA) for the School Business Professional Apprenticeship remotely. This flexibility allows apprentices to choose convenient scheduling options, whether during regular office hours or outside them. By providing a remote EPA, Elevate ensures that apprentices have the convenience and flexibility they need to succeed.

Information, advice and guidance

We provide comprehensive Guidance and Information Handbooks for the School Business Professional Apprenticeship, ensuring apprentices are fully informed and prepared. Additionally, our onboarding sessions for training providers cover all aspects of the End Point Assessment (EPA) process, including timelines and best practices. To further support apprentices, employers and providers, we offer a detailed Information, Advice and Guidance video, which includes a section on our 'Hot Tips', to help navigate every step of the apprenticeship journey.

Clear prices, no surprises

Elevate's EPA services are priced fairly and competitively and we always ensure our fees remain below the maximum 20% of the total apprenticeship cost. A pre-EPA fee is charged during the contracting phase to secure support materials and assessment booking. The remaining balance for the EPA is charged upon Gateway entry and EPA booking. Elevate caters to all group sizes and we offer a flexible approach to pricing, tailored to larger groups.

Browse our online guide to understand the distinction between a re-sit and a retake. For additional details, reach out to our team today. Please note VAT is charged for a re-sit and a re-take as these fees are not covered by the apprenticeship funding.

Here's what your investment brings

A flexible and highly responsive service
Comprehensive support for apprentices, providers, and employers across all the standards we assess. This includes employer EPA onboarding and scheduling meetings, standard-specific apprentice Information and Guidance Handbooks, a flexible booking system and Information, Advice, and Guidance (IAG) videos.
All apprentices receive performance feedback within 25 working days of assessment. Detailed feedback reports provided to apprentices.