Progress Review (Tripartite) Meetings

What is a progress review or tripartite meeting?

A progress review meeting (often called a tripartite meeting) is an opportunity to discuss the progress of the apprentice against their training plan. This is a three-way meeting between the apprentice, the apprentice's employer and the Queen Mary mentor/Senior Tutor. Meetings should take place at least twice each semester.

The purpose of these meetings is to ensure that the apprentice is making good progress against the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) listed in the standard. These meetings play a major role in the development and support of the apprentice and also provide a vital opportunity for giving and receiving feedback.

All three participants should review academic progress being made in the programme and vocational progress in the workplace against the training plan. They should also review actions agreed in previous meetings and review evidence captured in the apprentice’s portfolio (where applicable).

Meetings provide an opportunity to identify areas for development against the apprenticeship standard, recognise achievements, and identify any issues or concerns that may impact on the success of the apprenticeship.

Getting the most out of progress review meetings

• Set out a clear plan and expectations for the apprenticeship in the first meeting
• Share information ahead of the meeting in order to maximise time and enable reflection and preparation
• Focus on the learner journey: personalise the plans by setting out and tracking goals and demonstrating a clear path towards attainment. This personalised approach will motivate learners as they move through their apprenticeship;
  • Identify specific and actionable targets;
  • Ask the learner to reflect on their progress against the milestones and actions that were previously set;
  • Discuss skills and behaviours and have values based conversations (British values);
  • Create opportunities for the learners to reflect on the challenges they have faced and how they have overcome them;
  • Record attainments and the KSBs that they demonstrate;
  • Discuss where the apprentice is on the learning journey;
  • Encourage the apprentice to reflect on what they have done above and beyond the requirements of the apprenticeship;
  • Consider any adjustments considered necessary (additional support to boost attainment or reconfigure goals to challenge any learners progressing better than expected). It is also important to cover any safeguarding and wellbeing concerns;
  • Outline any specific points the learner needs to hit in order to be on track at the next review.
• Ask the contribution of the employer in terms of sharing what they think about the apprentice’s progress, any concerns they have and whether they agree with the assessment.
• Agree clear and measurable goals, specific to the requirements and the KSBs, to allow all parties to track progress;
• Discuss what the employer can do to support the apprentice to achieve the actions that have just been set out.
• Properly document the learner review meetings: gathering evidence of the learner’s achievements and demonstrate attainment against their goals, as well as against the standards KSBs. This has benefits for everyone:
  • Learners - empowers them with knowledge of where they are and where they are going
  • Employer - enables understanding of the learner’s progress (areas for improvement or extra work)
  • Queen Mary – provides insights to improve programmes and processes and demonstrates that requirements have been fulfilled

Acknowledgements

This resource was created by adapting information taken from the following resources: 

Aptem - Tips for running effective tripartite review meetings

University of Liverpool Centre for Innovation in Education- Simulated Apprenticeship Tripartite Review (You Tube)