A GROUP of nuclear apprentices have not let having to work from home during the lockdown stand in the way of achieving stellar results.

Out of the 34 students from the National College of Nuclear, based at Lakes College, who attended their End Point Assessment in their apprenticeship, 94 per cent have passed.

The students were studying the Level 5 Nuclear Technician course and Level 6 Nuclear Engineer and Nuclear Scientist course.

The curriculum team leader for nuclear, Chris Fairclough, is incredibly proud of their achievements.

“I am over the moon with the results of the first batch of End Point Assessments for students studying Higher Level Apprenticeships within Nuclear and I would like to give my congratulations to those students,” he said.

“Thanks to the two apprenticeship coaches Katherine Gallagher and Jonathan Allport on the quality and quantity of work that they have undertaken to ensure our students were ready to undertake the difficult End Point Assessments, especially within the current restrictions due to Covid-19.

“We are incredibly proud of our overall per cent pass rates for the for our Level and Level 6 apprenticeships, These are well above the national level."

For the assessments, the Level 5 students had to write a 5,000 word report about their skills, knowledge and behaviours; give a 20 minute presentation to an independent assessor as well as having an hour-long interview with the assessor.

Due to lockdown restrictions, a large number of presentations and interviews were completed remotely, using video calling software.

The Level 6 students completed a 10,000-word dissertation, conducted a 25-minute presentation on their project to a panel, produced a portfolio of evidence and had an interview with an independent assessor.

The employers which the students have apprentices with are Sellafield Ltd, NNL, LLWR, Arup, Wood PLC, Jacobs and Atkins Ltd.

Mr Fairclough added: “An extended thank you must also go to the employers of the students and also the Endpoint Assessment Organisations for their support and advice to ensure that the EPAs have been completed efficiently during the Covid-19 lockdown.”