Gateway

For starts under the 2026 to 2027 rules, assessment can take place at any stage, and gateway is replaced by gateway to completion: the apprentice reaches it when they have satisfied all the requirements set out in the assessment plan, including any mandatory qualifications and the English and maths qualifications required by the funding rules (exit requirements that are optional for apprentices aged 19 or over at the start, unless the standard specifies otherwise). For earlier starts, gateway was the agreement that the apprentice was ready to attempt end-point assessment, under the rules for their start date.

It is evidenced, and the date matters: gateway and assessment dates drive both completion recording and the timeliness element of achievement rates.