Manual testing to automatic testing A formal training programme for testers at Bands 3 to 7

Capstone brief: Band 6 quality assurance

Evidence 16 for Module 16. Hours 230.5–268. Assessed at Gate 4.

Field Value
Track Band 6 quality assurance
Band 6
UK GDaD PCF role Quality assurance test analyst (Senior quality assurance test analyst)
Module 16 depth Apply and lead or coach others
Automation target Working
Presentation 20 minutes, aimed at a non-technical audience

The capstone, from the spec

A risk-based automation approach for the area, automated acceptance checks agreed with clinical users, and coaching a Band 4 or Band 5 colleague through their capstone.

Scope

Your area of the product, and one colleague's capstone.

Agree the exact scope with the product owner and mentor at hour 230.5, using the scope agreement, your Evidence 7 analysis, and your Evidence 15 estimate.

Deliverables

  • A risk-based automation approach for the area: what to automate, at which layer, what stays manual, environments, data, and tools.
  • Automated acceptance checks, turned from acceptance criteria agreed with clinical users (from Acceptance test automation), running in CI.
  • A spec/index.md for the checks that agrees with the code.
  • Traceability to hazards, agreed with the clinical safety officer.
  • A coaching log (Coaching others in automation) for one Band 4 or Band 5 colleague through their capstone, with their feedback.
  • A short residual risk report for the product owner and clinical safety officer.

Acceptance

The product owner and the Gate 4 panel will look for:

  • The approach is reviewed by the team and the head of test.
  • Clinical users agree the acceptance checks reflect their needs.
  • The checks pass in CI and fail when behaviour is wrong.
  • The coached colleague's feedback is recorded.
  • The product owner accepts the capstone.
  • Synthetic data only, and no secrets in source control.
  • You can explain every line you submitted.

Support

Independent, with a mentor review every 7.5 hours of learning.

Presentation

20 minutes, plus questions, following the presentation outline. Include a live run: it is the Gate 4 Part D practical.

Panel

Chair: a lead test engineer or test manager at least one band above you, not your mentor. A developer from another team. The training lead. The clinical safety officer reviews traceability evidence in writing.

Gate 4 thresholds

At least 90% in each of Parts A, B, and C of the capability self-assessment; Part D Meets; no skill more than one level below expected; test engineering at your automation target; capstone accepted by the product owner. See the spec for the full rules.

View this document on GitHub materials/modules/module-16-capstone/brief-band-6-quality-assurance.md