We’re on a mission to break boundaries in assessment with an investment fund to support and pilot new ideas on the future of assessment.
When it comes to preparing learners for the world of work, essential skills – also known as soft skills like communication, teamwork and resilience – are just as critical as technical knowledge. Yet in vocational education, these skills are often the hardest to assess - and the easiest to overlook.
At NCFE, we believe that assessment should reflect the full picture of learner development. That’s why, through our Assessment Innovation Fund (AIF), we’re partnering with immersive learning specialists Bodyswaps and Ufi VocTech Trust to test a new approach to formative assessment - one that puts essential skills at the heart of the learner journey.
The Story of Learner Growth project is designed to explore how immersive technology and AI can support inclusive, low-stress, and meaningful formative assessment of essential skills in vocational education. Delivered in collaboration with independent research partner What Worked Education, the project focuses on learners in Construction and Motor Vehicle apprenticeships, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), where traditional assessment methods often fall short - particularly in preparing learners for the Professional Discussion component of their End-Point Assessments (EPAs)
Through this collaboration, we aim to test and validate a new assessment framework into the Bodyswaps platform - one that blends AI-powered roleplays, learning modules, structured feedback, customisable quizzes, and reflective tools. These elements are delivered through modular learning pathways, giving educators real-time insights into learner progress while reducing administrative burden.
The project will be delivered in two phases:
Phase 1: Feasibility
We’ll begin by working with 200 learners across three Further Education colleges to test early-stage tools and gather feedback. This phase will help us refine the platform and ensure it meets the needs of both learners and educators.
Phase 2: Impact
Building on those insights, we’ll scale up to 800 learners across 10 colleges. A randomised control trial will rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of the refined tools, with particular attention to accessibility, educator confidence, learner engagement, and measurable improvements in learners’ End-Point Assessment readiness.
Employers consistently tell us that essential skills are what set candidates apart. But in many vocational settings, these skills remain under-assessed and undervalued. This project aims to change that - by making essential skills development visible, assessable and professionally recognised.
By the end of the project, we aim to:
Bodyswaps is an immersive learning platform used by over 300 institutions worldwide, including more than 75 UK FE colleges. By combining SME-authored scaffolded learning modules, customisable AI roleplays, and tailored assessments, they empower learners to practise essential skills in a psychologically safe environment - available on VR, PC, and mobile.
The Story of Learner Growth project is just beginning, but the ambition is clear: to reshape how we assess what really matters. Findings from the feasibility and impact phases will inform a validated roadmap for wider adoption across the FE sector.
If you’d like to learn more about the project or explore opportunities to get involved, please contact Dean Blewitt, Senior Innovation and Investments Manager at NCFE: [email protected].
