External Moderation of Primary School Teacher Assessments

Summary

The requester sought details on external moderation of primary school teacher assessments, including policies, visit numbers, and specific grading results over three years. The authority provided sample moderation letters for Science and Maths but withheld specific statistical data and results, citing partial exemptions.

Key Facts

• The Department of Education, Sport and Culture conducts external moderation visits to ensure consistency in pupil assessments across Island schools.
• Moderation visits for Science and Maths focus on summative assessment snapshots rather than complete portfolios.
• Each visit typically involves reviewing work from four pupils (two at level 2a/2b and two at level 4a/4b).
• Moderators meet with pupils for 20-30 minutes to discuss their work and gain insight into attainment levels.
• Written feedback summaries are sent to schools within 10 working days after the visit.

Data Disclosed

• 2016-17
• 2017-18
• level 2a
• level 4a
• level 2b
• level 4b
• 10 minutes
• 20-30 minutes
• 10 working days
• four pupils
• 2019-05-01
• 2019-05-29

Original Request

I request details of the external moderation work undertaken by the EIS (or such other area of the DESC as may be relevant) at the Island's primary schools. Accordingly, please provide me with details of: A copy of the Departmental policy and any guidance notes for moderators relevant to the moderation of pupils' curriculum levels; The number of external moderation visits (with dates of such where held) conducted at each primary school over the last three full academic years; The year group(s), number of pupils within such group(s) and subjects moderated at each visit over the last three full academic years; and Results of the findings of each moderation visit e.g. Year 6 w pupils moderated in maths, x pupils' levels down graded, y pupils' levels up graded and z pupils no change.

Data Tables (6)

Full Response Text

Date:

Ref:

Dear Re: 2016-17 Moderation Visit for Science As part of the moderation procedures for Science during this academic year, your school is due to be visited by members of the Science moderation team. This year your school will be visited by ????????? In order to support the school in establishing consistency in making judgements, the moderation team will look at work from four pupils who are currently assessed overall as two at level 2a, two at 4a. The pupils should come from a range of classes and year groups whenever possible, but at least one pupil should come from KS1. This year sees the start of a new round of moderation visits for science, and as with Maths we are focusing on summative assessment rather than a specific attainment target. We are not expecting a complete portfolio of work for each child, rather a snapshot of where they are on the day. The visit will take place either in the spring or first half of the summer term and one of the moderators assigned to your school will contact you to arrange a mutually convenient time.
The purpose of the moderation visit is to support your staff in making consistent and accurate judgments of children’s science and to ensure that assessment is consistent across all Island Schools.
The format of the visit will be as follows: The moderator will meet with the science co-ordinator and/or class teacher to establish the school context. This should take no more than 10 minutes and therefore supply cover will not be needed. Please ensure that there is a room available for the half-day visit where the moderator(s) will be able to review the evidence without interruption. The evidence provided must be:
• from 2 pupils who are currently assessed as achieving 2a • from 2 pupils who are currently assessed as achieving 4a Department of Education and Children Rheynn Ynsee as Paitchyn Chief Executive Officer Ronald Barr

Education Improvement Service Department of Education and Children Hamilton House, Peel Road, Douglas Isle of Man, IM1 5EZ Direct Dial No: (01624)

Mobile: (07624)

Website: www.gov.im Email:

Red Redacted Redacted Reda Reda Redacted Ideally, there should also be a balance of evidence from boys and girls and the targets set as a consequence of teacher assessment need to be clear.
The moderation team will need to meet with the four pupils for a short period of time (20-30 minutes). This time will be spent discussing the pupils’ work with them and talking to them to gain greater insight into their levels of attainment. Further advice and suggestions about positive steps the school might take, in preparation for the visit, are outlined below:- • Obvious use of the Science assessment document, Guide to Assessing
Science KS 1 & 2 by all teachers • Annotations of individual pieces of pupils’ work which indicate the context of work e.g. teacher assisted or independent work • Labelling of some individual pieces of work with levels and “I can statement” from the Science assessment guidance • A tray/file/range of evidence which might include:

from the pupils:

• target work

• work/exercise books

• photos of whiteboard work

• quizzes, tests, assessments

from the teacher:

• assessment record

• lesson plans (annotated)

• observation notes

• notes of pupil voice/comments during guided sessions/ plenaries etc. •
  An overall level for the pupil at the time of the moderation. After the visit Feedback will be provided to your science co-ordinator and to yourself (if possible) on key points and next steps and a brief written summary will be sent to you within 10 working days.
  It is intended that the visit is helpful and supportive. If you need any further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact your moderators. Yours sincerely

Redacted Redacted Appendix A- Letter for moderation of maths - Primary
Date:

Ref:

Dear Re: 2017-18 Moderation Visit for Maths
As part of the moderation procedures for Numeracy during this academic year, your school is due to be visited by members of the Numeracy moderation team. This year your school will be visited by and . In order to support the school in establishing consistency in making judgements, the moderation team will look at work from four pupils who are currently assessed overall as two at level 2b, two at 4b. The pupils should come from a range of classes and year groups whenever possible, but at least one pupil should come from KS1. This year sees the start of a new round of moderation visits focusing on summative assessment rather than a specific attainment target. We are not expecting a complete portfolio of work for each child, rather a snapshot of where they are on the day. The visit will take place either in the spring or first half of the summer term and one of the moderators assigned to your school will contact you to arrange a mutually convenient time.
The purpose of the moderation visit is to support your staff in making consistent and accurate judgments of children’s numeracy and to ensure that assessment is consistent across all Island Schools.
The format of the visit will be as follows: The moderator will meet with the numeracy co-ordinator and/or class teacher to establish the school context. This should take no more than 10 minutes and therefore supply cover will not be needed. Please ensure that there is a room available for the half-day visit where the moderator(s) will be able to review the evidence without interruption. The evidence provided must be:
• from 2 pupils who are currently assessed as achieving 2b • from 2 pupils who are currently assessed as achieving 4b Ideally, there should also be a balance of evidence from boys and girls and the targets set as a consequence of teacher assessment need to be clear.
The moderation team will need to meet with the four pupils for a short period of time (20-30 minutes). This time will be spent discussing the pupils’ work with them and talking to them to gain greater insight into their levels of attainment. Red Redacted Redacted Further advice and suggestions about positive steps the school might take, in preparation for the visit, are outlined below:- • Obvious use of the Seven Strands assessment document by all teachers • Annotations of individual pieces of pupils’ work which indicate the context of work e.g. teacher assisted or independent work • Labeling of some individual pieces of work with levels and “I can statement” from the Seven Strands assessment guidance • A tray/file/range of evidence which might include:

from the pupils:

• target work

• work/exercise books

• photos of whiteboard work

• quizzes, tests, assessments

from the teacher:

• assessment record

• lesson plans (annotated)

• observation notes

• notes of pupil voice/comments during guided sessions/ plenaries etc. • An overall level for the pupil at the time of the moderation. The Moderation Team will be running briefing meetings for schools who are being moderated this year where we will talk through the process and answer any questions that you might have. It is advisable that the school sends representatives to one of these meetings as it is a new process this year. The meetings are being held at:- Kewaigue Primary School, 4.15pm on Tuesday 22nd November Sulby School, 4.15pm on Monday 21st November CANCELLED - Castle Rushen High School, 4.15pm on Wednesday 23rd November After the visit Feedback will be provided to your numeracy co-ordinator and to yourself (if possible) on key points and next steps and a brief written summary will be sent to you within 10 working days.
  It is intended that the visit is helpful and supportive. If you need any further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact your moderators. Yours sincerely

Redacted Redacted The visit will take place at any time during this academic year and a moderator assigned to your school will contact you in the Autumn term to arrange a mutually convenient time.
The purpose of the moderation visit is to support your staff in making consistent and accurate judgments about a child’s overall attainment in writing.
The format of the visit will be as follows: The moderator will meet with the Head Teacher and/or Literacy Co-ordinator to establish the school context, including school procedures for assessing and moderating writing. This should take no more than 10 minutes and therefore supply cover will not be needed. Please provide the moderator with evidence from three children judged to be 3c and three children judged to be 5c at your most recent assessment. We would expect to see a range of independent pieces from across the curriculum to support the child’s level. If possible, please provide a mix of genders. During the visit moderators may ask to speak to some of the pupils whose work is being moderated. Please prepare them for this possibility. After the visit Feedback will be provided to your Literacy Co-ordinator and to yourself, if possible, on key points and next steps, and a brief written summary will be sent to you within 10 working days.
It is intended that the visit is helpful and supportive. However, if there are any issues arising from the moderation you will be contacted by a member of the EIS to follow them up. If you need any further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact your Moderator. Yours sincerely,

Redacted Redacted Redacted

Guidance to Moderating Maths in Schools

Step by step Guide to maths moderation

Before the moderation visit:

September - November 1. Schools are allocated to moderators, and letters are sent out from DEC to notify schools. (letter attached – Appendix A and B). This letter identifies the moderation team and also the lead moderator who will contact the school to make arrangements for the moderation.

1. Training for schools being moderated may be offered at various places around the Island.

From November onwards: 3. The lead moderator makes contact with their schools and asks for 3 possible dates in the remainder of the academic year. The lead moderator organises a date in agreement with the school, and ensures that the other team member(s) are notified. The visit should last half a day. The lead moderator also ensures that the school understands what they need to provide on the day – the letters sent out in September (Appendix A and B) list this. The school may request re visit to run through process and expectations but this should not include are view of any evidence.

1. The lead moderator confirms the date and time by email to the school and attaches to the email a copy of the relevant training information used. (Appendix C). Ensure REDACTED is copied into this email. Ideally this should be agreed and sent before February half term. Before the visit look at any previous recent maths moderation reports and in particular points for development from this. Ensure that the other moderators have copies of this.

2. The lead moderator should email the school a week before the visit to confirm arrangements for the visit. Copy REDACTED in to this email.

3. Moderation Visit The moderators should arrive in plenty of time, and all have a copy of the relevant maths seven strands document to assess against.
   • The moderators will meet with the numeracy co-ordinator or KS 3 subject co-ordinator and/or Head/class/Key Stage teacher to establish the school context. This should take no more than 10 minutes and therefore supply cover will not be needed.
   • It is recommended that the class teacher is made available for any questions.
   • Ask for a brief overview of maths assessment in the school, and any documents such as MTP or schemes that they use.
   • They should provide a copy of any assessment documents they use also.
   • Ask for specific information on the students to be interviewed and for any relevant information about them.
   • If the school has not provided evidence or something essential that you need to carry out the moderation, then arrange to return to the school at a mutually convenient time and ensure that the school fully understands what it needs to provide. Inform REDACTED of this ASAP.

4. Questions may include: Has it been a priority recently on the SIP? What are strengths/ weaknesses with Maths assessment across the school? Refer to any previous report - and pick up any areas for development mentioned – what has happened as a result of this? What impact has this had? Any evidence?

5. Moderators then go the quiet space allocated to them to moderate evidence provided. As a team you will match any evidence provided against the strands document. Not all the evidence should be at the same level – hopefully the school will have provided evidence which demonstrates progression for the selected students. From this the moderators decide if they initially agree with the summative assessment level given and identify any gaps that they wish to explore with the students. One of the moderators needs to take notes of this discussion to help inform the final report. Use the checklist to help. (Appendix D)

6. Students are then interviewed – interview 2 together judged to be at the same level. Questions should cover any areas highlighted in the discussion beforehand. However do not make the student feel uncomfortable or that they are being tested. Make clear to the students that you are looking at the school processes rather than their mathematical ability. Pick up anything specific from the evidence given and if the moderator feels that the student is working at a higher/lower level then some mathematical tasks or activities may be undertaken to provide further evidence to support judgements. You may also include more general questions such as:

Do you enjoy maths, Why /not? What in particular do you like about it? What types of activities do you do in maths? DO you always learn in the classroom? Do you use maths in any other subjects? How do you know how well you are doing in maths? How do you know what to do next to get better? If you could what would you change about maths in your school? What is maths homework like? How does it help? Do you ever use maths put of school – if so can you give an example?

1. The Moderators then collate information and decide as a group if they agree with the levels given and why/why not. Draft notes on the moderation form (Appendix F). Include areas of strength and those for development. Remember to be sensitive to the needs of the school on this and only comment

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