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Assessment Training

Over the course of the year, the Suffolk Assessment and Moderation team run a number of training courses. The training may be delivered virtually via Microsoft Teams or face to face in a venue.

Please find details of current training courses below. To apply for a place on a course, please click on the link in ‘How to apply.’

Once you have applied, we will confirm your place via email.

Summer 2024

Course title: Phonics screening check administration

Suitable for: Teachers who are new to the administration of the phonics screening check.

Delivery method: Virtual – Microsoft Teams

Dates and times:

  • Monday 22 April (1:30pm-2:30pm)
  • Tuesday 23 April (4:00pm-5:00pm)

Course outline:

This session will include information about which pupils should take the check, administration including scoring the check, and access arrangements. There will also be information about what to expect if you receive a phonics screening check monitoring visit and an opportunity to ask questions.

These sessions are fully funded for LA maintained schools through the DfE moderation grant and for all academies who have a moderation and monitoring agreement in place with Suffolk LA. For all other schools (i.e. academies without a moderation and monitoring agreement with Suffolk or LA maintained schools outside of Suffolk) the charge is £15.

How to apply: Email [email protected] with the date and time you would like to attend and you will receive the meeting invitation within 3 working days.

Spring 2024

Course title: Key Stage 2 SATs administration

Suitable for: Headteachers and senior leaders who are new to the administration of the Key Stage 2 SATs.

Delivery method: Virtual – Microsoft Teams

Dates and times:

  • Monday 18 March (1:30pm-2:30pm)
  • Tuesday 19 March (4:00pm-5:00pm)

Course outline:

This session will include information about access arrangements, test security and what to do if there are unforeseen circumstances during the tests. Teacher assessment and moderation will also be discussed and there will be time for questions.

These sessions are fully funded for LA maintained schools through the DfE moderation grant and for all academies who have a moderation and monitoring agreement in place with Suffolk LA. For all other schools (i.e. academies without a moderation and monitoring agreement with Suffolk or LA maintained schools outside of Suffolk) the charge is £15.

How to apply: Email [email protected] with the date and time you would like to attend and you will receive the meeting invitation within 3 working days.

Course title: Writing assessment support at year 6

Suitable for: Any Year 6 teachers

Delivery method: Face to face

Dates, times and venues:

  • Monday 29 January 2024 (1:30pm-4:00pm)

Venue: Cedarwood Primary School, Wilkinson Drive, Kesgrave, IP5 2ES.

  • Tuesday 30 January 2024 (1:30pm-4:00pm)

Venue: Wood Ley Community Primary School, Lowry Way, Stowmarket, IP14 1UF.

  • Thursday 1 February 2024 (9:30am-12noon)

Venue: Worlingham CEVC Primary School, Garden Lane, Beccles, NR34 7SB.

  • Tuesday 6 February 2024 (9:30am-12noon)

Venue: Paddocks Primary School, Rochfort Avenue, Newmarket, CB8 0DL.

  • Tuesday 6 February 2024 (1:30pm-4:00pm)

Venue: Risby CEVC Primary School, Aylmer Close, Risby, IP28 6RT.

Course outline:

These sessions follow on from ‘New to Year 6’ and ‘Making your teacher assessment in Year 6’ sessions in the autumn term but are open to all year 6 teachers. Whilst there will be opportunity to clarify understanding around the teacher assessment framework, there will not be opportunity to cover this in the same detail as the courses in the autumn term.

These sessions are an opportunity for colleagues to discuss the writing their Year 6 pupils have done so far this year and to consider the next steps in writing for the pupils. They have been planned well ahead of the final assessment so that the focus can be on development for the pupils, rather than the final outcomes.

Each session will be supported by Kathryn Roper, SCC Assessment Officer and KS2 Moderation Manager, and a number of experienced year 6 moderators who will support with identifying the gaps to achieving end of year six standards. The sessions will be informal and supportive and have been planned so that colleagues can work together to compare standards, further develop their understanding of the KS2 writing assessment framework and share ideas for curriculum planning in writing in year 6.

Those attending will need to bring writing from at least six pupils from across the attainment spectrum (feel free to bring more if you have particular queries) and be prepared to discuss the work with the other colleagues attending.

These sessions are fully funded for LA maintained schools through the DfE moderation grant and for all academies who have a moderation and monitoring agreement in place with Suffolk LA. For all other schools (i.e. academies without a moderation and monitoring agreement with Suffolk or LA maintained schools outside of Suffolk) the charge is £30.

How to apply: Apply for a place on Writing assessment support at year 6

Autumn 2023

Course title: New to Year 6

Suitable for: Any teachers new, or returning, to Year 6

Delivery method: Face to face

Dates, times and venues:

  • Monday 13 November 2023 (9:30am-3:30pm)

Venue: Carlton Colville Primary School, Gisleham Road, Lowestoft, NR33 8DG.

  • Monday 20 November 2023 (9:30am-3:30pm)

Venue: Moreton Hall Community Centre, Symonds Hall, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 7EE.

  • Wednesday 22 November 2023 (9:30am-3:30pm)

Venue: Pinewood Community Hall, Laburnum Close, Ipswich, IP8 3SL.

These sessions are for teachers who are new to assessment at the end of Year 6. It is ideal for colleagues who are new to the profession and those who have not taught Year 6 before.

During the sessions we will look at the STA’s Teacher Assessment Framework in detail, with a particular focus on assessing writing.

There will be an opportunity to look at samples of pupil work and discuss how the work meets the different writing standards including the Pre-Key Stage standards.

We will also discuss aspects of the Key Stage 2 tests including access arrangements for your pupils. We will consider moderation and answer any questions you may have.

These sessions are fully funded for LA maintained schools through the DfE moderation grant and for all academies who have a moderation and monitoring agreement in place with Suffolk LA.

Please note – lunch is not provided.

How to apply: Apply for a place on New to Year 6

Course title: Making your Teacher Assessment in Year 6

Suitable for: Any Year 6 teachers

Delivery method: Face to face

Dates, times and venues:

  • Tuesday 28 November 2023 (1pm-4pm)

Venue: Pinewood Community Hall, Laburnum Close, Ipswich, IP8 3SL.

  • Monday 4 December 2023 (9am-12noon or 1pm-4pm)

Venue: Moreton Hall Community Centre, Symonds Hall, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 7EE.

  • Friday 8 December 2023 (9am-12noon or 1pm-4pm)

Venue: Carlton Colville Primary School, Gisleham Road, Lowestoft, NR33 8DG.

Course outline:

The sessions will focus on the assessment of writing at the end of Key Stage 2.

During these sessions we will use the same training materials used for moderator training this year. We will look at the STA’s Teacher Assessment Framework and the Pre-Key Stage standards in detail.

These sessions are fully funded for LA maintained schools through the DfE moderation grant and for all academies who have a moderation and monitoring agreement in place with Suffolk LA.

How to apply: Apply for a place on Making your Teacher Assessment in Year 6