Rail Engineering Operative Specification - ST0317 

Introduction

This document sets out the requirements for Railway Competence Group (RCG)’s independent apprenticeship assessment for the Rail Engineering Operative Level 2 apprenticeship standard, ST0317 v2.0. 

This specification explains the requirements for determining whether an apprentice has developed the mandatory knowledge and skills required of a competent Rail Engineering Operative within their selected occupational option. 

The Rail Engineering Operative apprenticeship is a core and options standard. Every apprentice is assessed against the mandatory core knowledge and skills and one of the following occupational options: 

• Rail Infrastructure 

• Rail Operations 

• 
  

The detail in this specification is relevant to apprentices, employers, training providers, independent assessors, internal quality assurers and RCG staff. It provides information about the assessment requirements and the respective roles and responsibilities of those involved in the assessment process. 

RCG assesses only the knowledge and skills identified as mandatory in the Apprenticeship Assessment Plan. Non-mandatory KSBs may arise naturally in workplace evidence or discussion but are not separate assessment requirements and must not be used to create additional assessment demand. 

The apprenticeship comprises two stages: 

• On-programme stage, during which the apprentice develops the knowledge and skills of the occupational standard and compiles a portfolio of evidence. 

• Apprenticeship assessment stage. 

On-programme

The on-programme stage develops the underpinning knowledge and skills of a Rail Engineering Operative apprentice in the core standard and their selected option. 

During the on-programme period, the apprentice will: 

• undertake training and workplace development relevant to the occupational standard; 

• develop competence against core KSBs and the KSBs for one selected option; 

• complete English and mathematics requirements in line with the apprenticeship funding rules; and 

• compile a portfolio of evidence to underpin the interview assessment method. 

The portfolio should be developed throughout the on-programme period. It must be sufficiently broad to support the assessment of the mandatory KSBs allocated to the interview, underpinned by the portfolio. 

Gateway Review

Before undertaking the apprenticeship assessment, the employer must be satisfied that the apprentice is working at or above the level of the occupational standard for their selected option. The employer may take advice from the training provider, but the readiness decision is ultimately the employer’s responsibility. 

RCG will confirm that all required readiness and gateway evidence has been provided on Ace 360 and accepted before being approved for apprenticeship assessment. 

As part of RCG gateway/readiness administration, the following requirements must be met: 

• The employer confirms that the apprentice is working at or above the occupational standard for the selected option. 

• English and mathematics requirements have been met in accordance with current apprenticeship funding rules. 

• A portfolio of evidence has been submitted to underpin the interview. 

• Any required declarations, reasonable-adjustment information and assessment administration documents have been completed. 

Where the Apprenticeship Assessment Plan (AAP) does not prescribe a specific gateway item or timing, the above operates as an RCG administrative control and does not create additional assessment content. 

Portfolio of evidence requirements

The portfolio of evidence must be compiled during the on-programme period. RCG expects 10 discrete pieces or coherent evidence. 

Evidence must be clearly mapped to the mandatory KSBs assessed through the interview underpinned by portfolio. A qualitative approach should be used; one piece of evidence may support more than one mandatory KSB. 

Suitable evidence may include: 

• workplace documentation or records. 

• workplace policies, procedures, permits, plans, schedules, job cards or compliance records where these demonstrate the apprentice’s application of requirements. 

• risk assessments, safe systems of work, environmental or waste records. 

• witness statements based on direct observation of performance. 

• annotated photographs. 

• inspection, testing, installation, maintenance, measurement or component records for Rail Infrastructure. 

• isolation, possession, worksite, on-track plant or machine, operational reporting or quality records for Rail Operations. 

• short video clips where secure, permitted and attributable to the apprentice. 

The portfolio must not rely on reflective accounts or self-assessment as evidence. Employer contributions should focus on direct observation of performance rather than opinion. 

The portfolio evidence must be valid and attributable to the apprentice. The portfolio must contain a declaration from the apprentice and employer confirming authenticity. (RCG Documentation provided) 

The portfolio is not directly assessed or graded. The independent assessor uses it to prepare for and support the interview. 

Gateway administration

The employer must complete and sign the approved RCG Gateway/Readiness Declaration confirming that the required gateway conditions have been met. 

RCG’s Apprenticeship Assessment Manager (AAM) will check that all required gateway/readiness evidence has been received and accepted before the apprenticeship assessment is allowed to be arranged. Where ACE360 is used for this standard, the gateway/readiness record, portfolio and associated evidence should be checked and managed within that system. 

Once gateway/readiness requirements have been satisfied, RCG will deliver the assessment in line with the approved assessment strategy, the AAP and applicable regulatory requirements. 

Retakes and Resits

Apprentices who fail the assessment may be offered a re-sit or re-take at the employer’s discretion and in accordance with RCG policy and the applicable apprenticeship requirements. 

• A re-sit does not normally require further learning. 

• A re-take requires further learning before the assessment is attempted again. 

A supportive action plan should be agreed to prepare the apprentice for a re-sit or re-take. 

The timescale for any re-sit or re-take will be agreed between the employer and RCG. RCG will apply its Re-sit and Re-take Policy without introducing additional assessment requirements. 

A different set of standardised questions will be used for re-sits and re-takes. 

Please also refer to RCG’s Re-sit and Re-take Policy. 

EPA

RCG’s assessment design uses one assessment method: Interview Underpinned by Portfolio. 

RCG will be responsible for coordinating and carrying out the assessment. RCG will appoint appropriately qualified and experienced independent assessors to conduct the assessment in accordance with this specification, assessment strategy, the approved AAP and applicable regulatory requirements. 

RCG assessors must be independent of the apprentice and must not have been involved in the apprentice’s on-programme training or assessment in a way that compromises impartiality. A conflict-of-interest declaration must be completed before assessment. If a conflict is identified, assessment will not proceed until a suitably independent assessor is appointed. 

Successful achievement will demonstrate that the apprentice has met the mandatory assessment requirements for the core and their selected Rail Infrastructure or Rail Operations option. 

Interview Underpinned by Portfolio

The interview underpinned by portfolio is a structured assessment conducted and assessed by an RCG assessor. 

The interview assesses competence against the mandatory KSBs only. The portfolio is used to support the interview but is not directly assessed or graded. 

Duration

The interview will last 60 +/- 10% minutes. The independent assessor may decrease or increase the time by up to 10% to allow the apprentice to complete their final answer. 

Questioning

RCG will use a standardised question bank and follow-up prompting questions to ensure all applicable mandatory KSBs are assessed. Questions will be open and competence-based and will allow the apprentice to explain what they did, why they acted, how they applied relevant requirements and what evidence supports their response. 

The assessor will use RCG’s approved standardised question bank and may ask suitable follow-up questions in line with RCG assessor training and standardisation requirements. Questions must not introduce non-mandatory KSBs as additional assessment requirements. 

The interview will cover the mandatory core assessment outcomes and the mandatory assessment outcome requirements for the apprentice’s selected option. 

Mandatory Core Assessment Outcomes

AO3 Commercial and Organisational Awareness contains K5, K6 and K7 in the AAP, but none are identified as mandatory. AAP stipulates that all assessment outcomes must be assessed and therefore RCG will assess the 3 non-mandatory KSBs that are covered in AO3. 

Option-specific Assessment Outcomes

Option 1 - Rail Infrastructure

Option 2 - Rail Operations

Portfolio use during the interview

The RCG assessor will review the portfolio in advance of the interview to identify relevant evidence, likely mandatory KSB coverage and areas requiring authentication or clarification. 

The apprentice will have access to their portfolio during the interview if required. They may refer to and illustrate their answers using evidence from the portfolio, but the assessor must grade the evidence generated through the interview, not the portfolio itself. 

The assessor will record: 

• questions asked; 

• apprentice responses; 

• mandatory KSBs demonstrated; 

• portfolio references used where relevant; and 

• the grading judgement and rationale. 

Assessment location

The interview will take place in a quiet environment free from distractions or influence. 

It may take place: 

• at the employer’s premises; 

• at another suitable location determined by RCG; or 

• by video conference. 

Where delivered remotely, RCG has controls in place to verify the apprentice’s identity and ensure that the apprentice is not being aided. 

Interview question bank

RCG maintains a secure standardised question bank of sufficient size to minimise predictability. It will be reviewed regularly and at least annually. 

Questions will be varied while still allowing consistent assessment of the applicable mandatory KSBs and published performance descriptors. 

A different set of questions will be used for re-sits and re-takes. 

Marking

RCG is responsible for carrying out the assessment and ensuring that all assessment decisions are made by competent independent assessors. 

The independent assessor is responsible for the preliminary grade for the interview underpinned by portfolio. 

Marking and grading guidance will be provided to the assessor. 

The preliminary grade and supporting assessment evidence will be recorded against the assessment component. The AAM and IQA will complete the required verification and finalisation process in accordance with internal quality assurance arrangements. 

Independence

The assessment requires independent assessment and judgement. 

RCG will maintain independence and impartiality by appointing assessors who are independent of the apprentice and the apprentice’s employer and who have not been involved in the apprentice’s training in a way that could create a conflict of interest. 

RCG is responsible for the recruitment, training, standardisation, performance monitoring and ongoing competence of independent assessors delivering this assessment. 

Any appeal against the outcome of grading will be managed under @Complaints and Appeals Policy . 

End-Point Grading

The interview underpinned by portfolio is graded as follows: 

• Fail 

• Pass 

• Distinction 

To achieve a Pass, the apprentice must provide sufficient evidence that all applicable mandatory core KSBs and all mandatory KSBs for their selected option meet the Pass standard described by the published performance descriptors (Appendix A). 

To achieve a Distinction, the apprentice must meet the Pass requirements and demonstrate the Distinction standard across the assessment evidence in line with RCG grading guidance and the published performance descriptors.(Appendix A 

A critical gap in an applicable mandatory KSB prevents a Pass. Non-mandatory KSBs cannot be used to compensate for a gap in mandatory evidence. 

Overall grading

Because RCG’s design uses one assessment method, the overall apprenticeship assessment grade is the grade achieved in the Interview Underpinned by Portfolio: Fail, Pass or Distinction. 

See RCG’s Grading and Feedback Policy for internal grading, feedback and verification arrangements. 

Certification process

Following successful completion and final verification of the assessment, RCG’s Apprenticeship Assessment Manager will complete the certification process through the approved apprenticeship certification arrangements. 

Where ACE360 is used, assessment evidence and final grades will be stored and facilitated through ACE360, and the certification request will be progressed using the applicable apprenticeship service functionality/API. 

Please refer to RCG’s Certification Policy for the controlled process. 

Delivery Arrangements

Remote Interview Delivery

Where the interview underpinned by portfolio is delivered remotely, the apprentice should be sent a pre-assessment checklist containing the requirements they must action before joining the assessment. 

The checklist should include, as applicable: 

• computer or device has adequate charge or is connected to power; 

• reliable internet connection is available; 

• Microsoft Teams or other approved video-conferencing software is working correctly; 

• photographic ID is available; 

• assessment room is well lit and free from avoidable distractions; 

• apprentice is alone unless a reasonable adjustment has been formally approved; 

• unauthorised devices and materials are out of sight; 

• the apprentice has access to the submitted portfolio of evidence; and 

• any approved reasonable adjustments have been confirmed in advance. 

Introductions and ID Verification

At the start of a remotely delivered interview, the assessor must complete the approved assessor checklist. This should include: 

• software and connection check; 

• apprentice identity verification; 

• confirmation that the assessment environment is appropriate; 

• confirmation that the apprentice has access to their portfolio; 

• confirmation of any reasonable adjustments; 

• conflict-of-interest declaration; and 

• confirmation that the apprentice understands the assessment format and conditions. 

Any ID records or screenshots retained must be handled in accordance with RCG data protection and retention requirements. 

Briefing

Before the assessment begins, the assessor must brief the apprentice on: 

• the purpose and format of the assessment; 

• the assessment duration and permitted 10% extension; 

• how questions will be used; 

• permitted materials; 

• confidentiality and malpractice requirements; 

• what to do in the event of a technical or operational interruption; 

• reasonable adjustment arrangements, where applicable; and 

• how the outcome will be communicated. 

Conflict of Interest

Please refer to RCG’s Conflicts of Interest Policy. 

Permitted Materials and Equipment

Interview Underpinned by Portfolio

The apprentice must have access to their submitted portfolio of evidence during the interview. 

The portfolio may be used to support and illustrate answers but is not directly assessed. 

No unauthorised notes, prepared answers or third-party assistance are permitted. 

Monitoring

For a remotely delivered interview, the assessor should continuously monitor the assessment through video and audio in accordance with RCG remote-assessment procedures. 

If the assessor suspects that the apprentice is receiving unauthorised assistance, using unapproved materials or otherwise breaching assessment conditions, the assessor must follow RCG malpractice and assessment incident procedures. 

Confidentiality 

Apprentices must not copy, photograph, record, distribute or retain confidential assessment questions or assessor materials. 

Apprentices must be reminded not to discuss secure assessment content with other apprentices. 

RCG staff and assessors must maintain the security of question banks, grading materials, apprentice evidence and assessment records in accordance with organisational policies and regulatory requirements. 

Appeals Procedure

If an apprentice, employer or training provider believes that the apprentice has been treated unfairly or that an assessment decision has not been made in accordance with the approved process, they may appeal the decision under RCG’s Complaints and Appeals Policy.