After a year and a half of attending the Team Leader / Supervisor apprenticeship, Ana Lopes from the Recruitment team had her End Point Assessment (EPA) scheduled for the end of March at our Woking centre. However, the rise of Covid-19 changed everything and challenged both Ana and the Apprenticeship Team to carry out this EPA under unusual circumstances.
An End Point Assessment (EPA) is the final assessment that apprentices have to sit in order to pass their apprenticeship. In Ana's case this comprised a structured interview and a formal discussion about her CPD.
After undergoing a medical intervention in Spain, Ana undertook a 700 mile road trip - about 10 hours driving - to arrive safely in her hometown Porto, because her flight back to the UK had been cancelled. Ana then found herself in lockdown in Portugal, where she completed her EPA.
Despite not having with her the notes she had carefully prepared for her EPA or the technological resources usually allocated for this assessment, Ana managed to successfully create the required conditions to complete her apprenticeship on the assessment day.
At the end of her EPA, Ana sent an email to her tutor, her line managers and the SAL staff saying: "I would like to thank everyone for the support you gave me on this learning journey. I learned a lot, and I feel more confident to embrace more complex professional challenges and to help SCC in the best way that I can. I don't know what the final result will be, but I am already happy with what I have achieved so far".
Little did Ana know she was going to achieve a merit grade, which is a great achievement under usual conditions, but even more so in the current situation.
More from adult learning news
- New arts and crafts curriculum September 2025
- Save the date - Adult learning courses and workshops
- Short Summer Courses
- Courses open for enrolment for adults with learning disabilities
- Surrey Adult Learning congratulates its GCSE achievers
- Molesey Adult Learning Centre – Building Works
- Courses with Family Learning help to create a better family life
- Enrolments for courses starting from 28 April are open!
- Bringing Art to Life
- Local Government Apprentice Award
- SAL Tutor Inspires Learners
- Enrolments for courses starting in 2025 are open!
- English, Maths and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses applications are now open for 2025
- Special Olympics World Games Achievement
- GCSE Results 2023
- Surrey Artists Open Studios 2023
- Autumn Term enrolment now open!
- Family Learning Achievement
- National Safeguarding Adults Week 2023
- SAL arts and crafts learner Laura goes on show at a local fair!
- Surrey Library Colleague joins SAL Apprenticeship programme to gain management skills and boost her career
- New Essential Digital Skills Courses
- Spring Craft Fair at Guildford Tunsgate Quarter
- ESOL courses help guests in Surrey adapt to life here and boost vital skills needed to live and work in the UK
- Supported Learners in Camberley are excited to share their passion for learning
- Suzukis, safaris and Spanish lessons with SAL!
- Textile Artist and SAL tutor attracts local community with Wellbeing Exhibition
- Supported Learners run Christmas Pottery Sale to raise money for charity
- Art tutor Roger Hutchins wins competition and recognition
- Supported Learning Easter Pottery Sale
- Empty Bowls Project 2022
- Learning Italian with Surrey Adult Learning - una richiesta da SAL!
- Learner takes up art class and inspires Woking community group
- Random Acts of Kindness Project by Surrey Adult Learning artists
- SAL learner awarded top grade in GCSE Italian
- Zornitsa's learner story
- October Craft Month
- GCSE results 2022
- Outreach ‘I Can’ Courses Inspiring Learners
- Supported Learning and their Fantastic Achievements
- Supporting Surrey Residents Looking For Jobs
- Ofsted Report 2022
- Expression of care for Ukraine
- Sculpture learners attend the annual Surrey Sculpture Society exhibition
- Henrietta Parker Trust courses support the NHS
- The Passport to Wellbeing Programme - a positive experience
- Surrey Adult Learning gets PPE together for front-line workers
- Supported Learning Pottery Sale for charity at the Guildford Centre
- Social Media for Business course helps to boost the performance of a travel company
- Tutor inspires the community
- Learning pottery at 90 years young
- Surrey Adult Learning marks VE Day 20 in lockdown
- From learner to teacher support
- Pottery enthusiast turns her amateur hobby into a professional job after attending classes with us
- Our ESOL classes help speakers of other languages grow in confidence for everyday life and work
- Free courses for families from January 2023
- Surrey County Council Long Service Award for History Tutor Colin Parrish