Study With Us

September

18 months

Groundworkers are the first trade onto a construction and civil engineering site, and they work closely with supervisors and engineers in interpreting design specifications to prepare the site ready for the structural building works to take place. They continue their work throughout the construction phase, working with all on-site construction trades, such as bricklayers and plant operatives, up to and including the final completion activities of the project. Their work includes setting out and preparing the sub-surfaces ready for the structural work to begin, installing drainage systems, concreting, constructing roads and pathways and carrying out the finished hard landscaping. Groundworkers are able to transfer between heavy construction and civil engineering sites as well as house building, commercial building and general building sites. Groundworkers work for all types of construction companies from small subcontractors to large main contractors.

To supplement development as a Groundworker in the work place you will attend college on a day release basis and learn through tutor led classroom and workshop sessions. Moodle and Microsoft Teams resources will also be used to support self- study.

This apprenticeship standard will develop the knowledge, skills and
behaviours required to be a qualified Groundworker. Whilst there is no mandatory on-programme assessment in relation to the Groundworker standard, this programme will follow the recommended training specification of a Level 2 qualification for both knowledge and competence.

The end-point assessment (EPA) will assess how an apprentice can apply their skills, knowledge and behaviours acquired in their apprenticeship, through the following three assessments carried out after the gateway point of the apprenticeship:

1. Knowledge test –this test will consist of multiple-choice questions on a computer-based platform or paper-based.
2. Skills test – this test will consist of practical activities to assess the apprentice’s knowledge, skills and behaviours
3. Professional Discussion – assessed by an Independent Assessor, this discussion will consist of questions that clarify and probe the apprentice’s knowledge, skills and behaviours based on the portfolio of evidence developed by the apprentice.
Groundworker Apprentices must complete training towards English and mathematics qualifications in line with the apprenticeship funding rules. (This could be GCSE, Functional Skills or other).

Throughout the training period both College lecturers/assessors and your employer representative will complete progress reviews. When both your employer and the college consider you competent in all the knowledge, skills and behaviours you will be entered in for the End Point Assessment.

This is a three-part independent assessment:

• Knowledge assessment, a multiple-choice exam.
• Skills assessment, three simulated practical tasks.
• Oral assessment, 15 questions.

Successful assessments are graded pass/merit/distinction.

Following overall consideration of the skills required by this standard, entry requirements will be determined by the employer.

Attendance is one day per week, anticipated to be Monday.

The standard college day will run from 9.00am to 8.00pm.

Please contact the Apprenticeship Recruitment Team on 01924 789469 or email apprenticeships@heartofyorkshire.ac.uk

Whilst there is no longer a Level 3 apprenticeship for a bricklayer, the College provides a number of short courses and part time courses to support career progression.