FAQs – Digital Apprenticeships What is the Digital Apprenticeship Trailblazer? These are Level 4 apprenticeships in: • Software Developer • Network Engineer It is a group of Digital employers both large and small who have come together to lead on the design of a set of apprenticeship standards and assessments for apprenticeships for a number of roles within the Digital Industry. They have been designed by the industry for apprentices employed in a wide variety of different organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors. When are they available? They work to inspire young people about technology, accelerate the flow of talented people from all backgrounds into technology careers and help companies develop the technology skills they need for the future. What standards are in development? Currently two standards have been signed off by BIS (Business Innovation and Skills) and have been developed. Employers are recruiting for the two new Standard occupations, please refer to the National Apprenticeship Vacancy Service to apply. How will it be assessed? The assessment will be split into two parts: • the knowledge assessment (known as the formative) • the final summative assessment and grading The knowledge assessment will be made up of a number of modules which will be completed by taking: • an Assessment Organisation pass/fail test or • an approved Vendor/Professional Certificate. An apprentice must pass these modules before completing the final summative assessment and grading. The summative assessment will consist of a portfolio of the apprentice’s best work, a project that will draw on all of the skills and knowledge the apprentice will have acquired, a reference from the employer and an interview. How will the Apprenticeship be graded? The apprenticeship will be graded a pass, merit or distinction. There will be one holistic grade given to the apprentice after all of the summative assessment elements have been completed. What is the Apprenticeship timeline? The apprenticeship for the two standards must last a minimum of two years (24 months). It is expected the apprentice will complete: • the knowledge modules - in months 1 to 15 • the final summative elements - in months 16 – 24 What are the roles and responsibilities? The employer will provide the apprentice with their relevant job role providing on the job training, mentoring and experience, to enable them to demonstrate and evidence the core competence requirements. The centre will provide the apprentice with the relevant external training and administer the completion of Assessment Organisation knowledge tests or Professional/Vendor Certificates. The centre will contract with the Assessment Organisation to deliver the assessment services for their apprentices. The Assessment Organisation will administer all of the assessment of the apprenticeship to include the knowledge modules and the summative assessment. The Assessment Organisation will grade the apprentices a Pass, Merit or Distinction. Assessment providers will contract with the Tech Partnership to deliver the moderation service for their assessment services. The Tech Partnership will moderate the Assessment Organisation and moderate the overall grade of the apprenticeship. Learning and formative assessment Summative Assessment Apprentice: carries out work as defined by their employer, selects evidence for their portfolio from work carried out towards the end of the apprenticeship and completes the Knowledge Modules Apprentice: submits portfolio, completes synoptic project and attends interview Substantial piece of work* Substantial piece of work Vendor or professional qualification** Substantial piece of work Knowledge Assessment Modules*** Summative portfolio Synoptic project + Interview Employer: creates opportunities for the apprentice to carry out work and produce outcomes; confirms that apprentice is ready for summative assessment Independent Assessor: assesses and grades the apprentice on the basis of synoptic project, summative portfolio and interview Training Provider: maps and assesses work against the Standard, helps apprentice select evidence for the summative portfolio, confirms readiness for summative assessment Independent Moderation: quality controls the independent assessment service Approved Assessment Organisations: set and mark the knowledge modules * Created when an Apprentice carries out a complete and/or discrete piece of work, having first learned and applied the relevant skills/competencies and behaviours and the work is done to a satisfactory standard ** Mapped against the knowledge assessment to allow exemptions against knowledge modules *** Modular, to enable equivalents against the vendor and professional qualifications What will it cost? The cost of the apprenticeship still needs to be defined as the assessment for all aspects is currently being finalised. Where can I find the Apprenticeship Standard for each role? • Software Developer includes job roles such as: web developer, application developer, mobile app developer, games developer and a real time systems developer. Full brief may be downloaded from here • Network Engineer includes job roles such as: network technician, systems engineer and a network administrator. Full brief may be downloaded from here Where can I find the Occupational brief for each Apprenticeship Standard role? • Software Developer – full occupational brief can be downloaded here • Network Engineer – full occupational brief can be downloaded here Contact us are available Staff at the OCR Customer Contact Centre to take your call between 8am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. Telephone: 02476 851509 Email: apprenticeships@ocr.org.uk ©2015 For staff training purposes and as part of our quality assurance programme your call may be recorded or monitored. © OCR 2013 Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations is a Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England. Registered office 1 Hills Road, Cambridge CB1 2EU. Registered company number 3484466. OCR is an exempt charity.