NOCN is a market-leading independent End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) who have been successfully delivering End Point Assessments since 2017. NOCN is at the forefront of apprenticeship reforms including the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy in the UK, working in partnership with employers, Further Education colleges, Training Providers and skills experts to develop a range of standards and assessments for new apprenticeships.

NOCN is also an established Ofqual regulated Awarding Organisation, bringing this level of quality assurance to its End Point Assessment provision

The broad purpose of the occupation is to install new natural sustainable and ethically sourced stone or conserve, repair or replace existing natural stone in buildings and/or landscape projects where stonework is a key feature within the garden, including steps, walls, copings, water features, bespoke stone features and paved areas. Stonemasonry is a construction specialism and can be integral to both private and commercial projects and there are a number of specialist occupations within stonemasonry. For this standard, one of the following occupational options will be completed:

• Banker Masons who mainly work in workshops producing finished stone components to exacting tolerances from raw stone block ready for installation.
• Interior Stone Fixers who install stone components in kitchens, bathrooms, wet rooms, staircases and atria, including flooring and walling.
• Exterior Stone Fixers who install both solid masonry and hand-set stone cladding to the outside of structures.
• Memorial Masons who produce, install and repair memorial stonework for private customers and public institutions alike.
• Stone Façade Preservationists who assess, record and clean stone (and non-stone) building facades using chemical and non-chemical methods.
• Heritage Stonemasons who conserve, repair and or replace stone in historic buildings many of which are of national and international importance.

Stonemasons carry out skilled work using quarried or mined natural stone. The work will be carried out either on construction sites involving new or existing buildings, indoors or outdoors, in a workshop or in an office. They will draw, create, cut, saw, carve, mason, install, or restore/conserve/clean and repair or replace natural stone.

In their daily work, an employee may potentially interact with a number of other construction trades and may work alongside bricklayers, carpenters, glaziers, electricians, plumbers, roofers etc. as well as with architects and designers.

NOCN works in partnership with employers and Training Providers to provide a quality-first End Point Assessment (EPA). End Point Assessment is the final stage of the apprenticeship where the apprentice demonstrates the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours gained on-programme to an independent End Point Assessor.

The required Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours of the Stonemason apprenticeship standard will be fully communicated to the apprentice at the start of their apprenticeship, in preparation for End Point Assessment. End Point Assessment is carried out independently by qualified NOCN End Point Assessors to ensure a quality robust End Point Assessment you can trust.

The required Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours of the Stonemason apprenticeship standard that the apprentice will be required to learn during the on-programme phase of the apprenticeship, are found on the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education website. Click the link below to see the apprenticeship standard and assessment plan in further detail:

https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/stonemason-v1-0 

The EPA period should only start once the employer is satisfied that the apprentice is consistently working at or above the level set out in the occupational standard, that is to say they are deemed to have achieved occupational competence. In making this decision, the employer may take advice from the apprentice’s training provider(s), but the decision must ultimately be made solely by the employer. In addition, an apprentice must have completed the following gateway requirements prior to beginning EPA: apprentices without English and mathematics at level 2 must achieve level 1 English and mathematics and have taken the tests for level 2.

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

There will be two stages; (Observation with questioning and Professional Discussion) to the EPA that will assess the overall knowledge, practical and behavioural competence of the individual, according to the level stated by the Stone Mason Standard.

Observation with Questioning

The observation with questioning must take 4 hours and 45 minutes in total (4 hours for the observation and 45 minutes for the questioning). The observation may be split into discrete sections held over a maximum of one working day. The length of a working day is typically considered to be 7.5 hours. There may be breaks during the observation to allow the apprentice to move from one location to another as required and meal/comfort breaks; such breaks will not contribute to the assessment time. NOCN will manage invigilation of apprentices during breaks in order to maintain security of the assessment in line with their malpractice policy. The NOCN assessor has the discretion to increase the time of both the observation and the questioning by up to 10%, to allow the apprentice to complete their last practical task and/or to complete their last answer.

Questions must be asked after the observation is complete on a one-to-one basis. The independent assessor must ask a minimum of 8 open questions. The purpose of the questioning is to assess underpinning knowledge and behaviours and to determine whether the apprentice has reached pass criteria. Questioning should last for 45 minutes (additional to the observation time).

Professional Discussion

The NOCN assessor will conduct and assess the professional discussion. The professional discussion must last for 60 minutes. The independent assessor has the discretion to increase the time of the professional discussion by up to 10% to allow the apprentice to complete their last answer. During this method, the NOCN assessor will combine questions from the EPAO's question bank and those generated by themselves. The professional discussion will be conducted as set out here: The questioning and evidence provided for this assessment will enable the apprentice to demonstrate the depth of their knowledge, skills and behaviours and understanding in their craft. A minimum of 10 open questions will be asked during the professional discussion. The independent assessor can ask follow-up questions during the professional discussion to gain clarity to answers or evidence provided by the apprentice. The independent assessor is free to use the EPAO question bank as well as generate their own questions.

The NOCN End Point Assessor will consider the level of English that the apprentice is working at and pitch questions using appropriate language to ensure inclusivity. Apprentices are expected to understand and use relevant occupational language. Once End Point Assessment is carried out, NOCN will assign an End Point Assessment Moderator, (a second appointed assessor, who has experience within quality assurance), this Moderator will review the judgements made within the End Point Assessment and the grade/s that have been applied.

NOCN organises the EPA at a suitable time for the employer, training provider and apprentice. We then book the independent expert assessor who will deliver the EPA.

Because arranging a quality EPA involves a number of people and organisations, NOCN requires a minimum of three months to ensure all elements of EPA are in place including, contracting, invoicing and scheduling.

When the Gateway stage is reached, NOCN will expect the employer or the Training Provider to inform NOCN and to make the final booking for the End Point Assessment. The End Point Assessment for the apprenticeship standard will take place after the apprentice has completed a minimum of 20% off-the-job training, and achieved all required mandatory elements of the apprenticeship.

NOCN will provide the employer and Training Provider guidance on the pre-requisite requirements needed to be submitted to NOCN and how the End Point Assessment will be undertaken.

When the Gateway stage is reached, NOCN will expect the employer or their Training Provider to inform NOCN and to make the final booking for the End Point Assessment. The End Point Assessment management system allows the apprentice/s data to be added to the system, and this data will match the ESFA database. All pre-requisites for the apprentice will be added to the system before the End Point Assessment booking

NOCN has a range of useful EPA resources available and our friendly team is available to offer expert advice and support for both Employers and training providers.

On successful completion, NOCN will issue an EPA grade notification and apply to the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) to produce the final apprenticeship certificate.

NOCN EPA services are priced fairly and competitively. As a leading non-profit organisation we ensure our charges are below the maximum 20% of the total apprenticeship. A pre EPA fee is charged at the contracting phase to secure support materials and assessment booking. The remaining balance for the EPA is charged upon Gateway entry and EPA booking. NOCN applies a flexible approach to pricing based upon cohort size and delivery model.

• Construction Site Supervisor
• Bricklayer
• Construction Site Manager (Degree)