Moderation

External moderation of teacher assessment is based on the Standard and Testing Agency Reporting Arrangements (ARA).

Local Authorities (LAs) have a statutory duty to moderate the teacher assessment (TA) judgments for KS1 and KS2. The management of this process will be delivered by HEP.

LAs are required to externally moderate a sample of at least 25% of LA-maintained schools on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education. This exercise will validate TA judgments in KS1 in English reading, English writing and mathematics and in KS2 English writing, which forms part of the school’s published accountability data. Academies are responsible for confirming their choice of LA external moderation provider to STA during the autumn term. Academies are treated in the same way as maintained schools in the external moderation process. LAs must ensure that academies are moderated once every 4 years, or more frequently if required, in addition to the 25% sample of LA maintained schools.

All external moderation is a collaborative process between the LA external moderation team and the school.  Statutory external moderation helps quality assure these judgments. It is used to confirm that TA judgments in both KS1 and KS2 are accurate and consistent with national standards. This ensures that schools are assessing accurately against national standards and the system is fair to all pupils.

Teachers should consider it a positive part of their professional development. It offers the opportunity to discuss judgments on pupil performance against the requirements of the Teacher Assessment Framework KS1 and KS2 and the Standard and Testing Agency (STA) exemplification material.

Maintained schools selected by the LA to receive a moderation visit as part of its programme will not be charged. Academies, Free and independent settings that have chosen to receive a moderation visit as part of the programme will be charged based on the number of forms of entry.