Yes, a member of staff may be present in the room during an End-Point Assessment (EPA) exam, but only under specific conditions.
Permitted Presence
One member of staff is allowed to be in the room during the exam
Their presence must be solely for safeguarding purposes
This may include situations where:
The learner requires supervision for welfare reasons
Organisational or site policies require a staff member to be present
Strict Conditions
To maintain the integrity and fairness of the assessment:
The staff member must not interfere with the exam at any point
They must not:
Provide assistance or guidance to the learner
Communicate with the learner during the assessment
Influence or disrupt the assessment process in any way
They are present only as an observer for safeguarding, not as a participant in the assessment.
Role of the Invigilator
The invigilator remains fully responsible for:
Conducting and supervising the exam
Ensuring assessment conditions are met
Managing any issues during the assessment
The presence of a staff member does not replace or alter the invigilator’s role.
Important Considerations
The assessment must still take place in a controlled environment
Any concerns about inappropriate conduct may impact the validity of the assessment
Providers should ensure that any staff member present:
Understands their limited role and responsibilities