Welcome to our reforms support page, your one-stop shop for news and updates about the apprenticeship reforms, helping you stay informed each step of the way.
Please note that this is the latest information published on 16th December 2025 by Skills England. We are expecting a final version of requirements in Spring 2026 once Ofqual and OfS have confirmed any changes to their regulation of apprenticeships.
Apprenticeship Reforms
Useful Links
Full guidance report by Skills England
The latest Skills England update, written by Gemma Marsh, Deputy Chief Executive, Skills England.
The Skills England Funding Companion Document offers clear guidance on important elements of the apprenticeship reforms.
The rules for apprenticeship training and assessment funding, and guidance on the changes to assessment.
A list of the apprenticeship standards currently being revised, adjusted or retired and the estimated completion date of the changes.
9 Principles outlined by Skills England
Shorter and less prescriptive assessment plans – streamlined, high-level documents.
Proportionate to the competency being tested – no unnecessary assessment.
Include only the minimum number of assessments needed to confirm competence.
Remove duplication – e.g. avoiding overlap with qualifications.
Enable assessments during the apprenticeship (on-programme) where appropriate.
Allow training providers to deliver and mark parts of assessment (under quality assurance).
Make the best use of technology in assessment design and delivery.
Enable employers to verify behaviours rather than separate formal assessment by a third party.
Focus assessment on occupational competence aligned with employer needs and standards.
What this means for Notebook’s Standards?
Notebook's standards are under review. Please refer to Skills England for the latest and updated information.
Once the new standards have been published, please see below the estimated timeframes from publication to go live for new starts.
Standards with Mandatory Qualifications: 1 – 3 months.
Standards with Non-Mandatory Qualifications: Most standards – up to 6 months. For more complex standards – up to 12 months.
Changes in terminology
Old End-Point Assessment terminology
End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO)
End-Point Assessment (EPA)
Gateway
Knowledge, Skills, Behaviours (KSBs)
New Assessment terminology
Apprenticeship Assessment Organisation (AAO)
Apprenticeship Assessment
Gateway to completion
Knowledge & Skills (K/Ss) - Behaviours removed from the core requirements as these will be verified by employers.)
What is the new Gateway to completion?
Before a certificate can be requested, the organisation requesting the certificate must confirm that the apprentice has achieved the requirements set out in an apprenticeship assessment plan.
These requirements include confirming the apprentice has sufficiently demonstrated the required behaviours (described in the occupational standard) with the employer. They may also include:
the achievement of any additional qualifications mandated within the occupational standard.
the achievement of English and maths qualifications, as per the latest version of the apprenticeship funding rules.
To reflect that apprenticeship assessment can now take place at any stage of the apprenticeship, the term ‘gateway’ or ‘gateway to assessment’ has now been replaced by ‘gateway to completion’. This was initially set out in the Department for Education’s Funding Rules, published in May 2025.
Gateway to completion is the final checkpoint at the end of an apprenticeship programme to ensure that the apprentice has completed all necessary requirements and is ready to receive their certificate.
Employers and training providers should have ongoing conversations throughout the learning period about assessment readiness, mandatory qualifications and competence, with regular progress reviews also including the apprentice. Gateway to completion should be used as the final opportunity to check the apprentice has met all the requirements for completion rather than the singular review point.
Verification of behaviours
It is the employer’s responsibility to review and confirm that an apprentice has sufficiently demonstrated the required behaviours before an apprenticeship certificate can be requested. This reflects the employer’s direct oversight of the apprentice’s day-to-day performance and alignment with workplace expectations.
Behaviours must be verified by someone who works closely with the apprentice, typically their line manager or equivalent. While behaviours must be confirmed for certification, they do not contribute to the final grade (pass or distinction).
Employers are responsible for reporting confirmation of behaviours when requesting the apprenticeship certificate. Assessment organisations and training providers are not required to assess or quality assure employer judgements in relation to behaviours.