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 or follow the instructions in ‘How to apply.’
Once you have applied, we will confirm your place via email.
Spring 2025
Writing assessment support at Year 6
Suitable for: Any Year 6 teachers
Delivery method: Face to face
| Date | Time | Venue |
| Wednesday 29 January 2025 | 1:30-4:00pm | Wood Ley Community Primary School, Stowmarket, IP14 1UF. |
| Thursday 30 January 2025 | 9:30am-12pm | Paddocks Primary School, Newmarket, CB8 0DL. |
| Thursday 30 January 2025 | 1:30-4:00pm | Risby CEVC Primary School, Bury St Edmunds, IP28 6RT. |
| Monday 3 February 2025 | 1:30-4:00pm | Cedarwood Primary School, Kesgrave, IP5 2ES. |
| Thursday 6 February 2025 | 9:30am-12pm | Worlingham CEVC Primary School, Worlingham, NR34 7SB. |
Course outline:
These sessions follow on from ‘New to Year 6 assessment’ and ‘Making your teacher assessment in Year 6’ sessions in the autumn term. 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, Suffolk County Council’s Assessment Officer and a number of experienced Year 6 moderators who will support with identifying the gaps to achieving end of Year 6 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 (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’
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: Online
| Date | Time | Venue |
| Wednesday 26 March 2025 | 4:00-5:00pm | Microsoft Teams |
| Monday 31 March 2025 | 1:30-2:30pm | Microsoft Teams |
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 briefly 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: If you would like to attend one of the sessions, please email [email protected] indicating which session you would like to attend and you will be sent the virtual meeting link.
Being a KS2 SATs observer
Suitable for: Governors in primary and junior schools
Delivery method: Online
| Date | Time | Venue |
| Monday 31 March 2025 | 6:00-7:00pm | Microsoft Teams |
The Standards and Testing Agency recommends that schools invite a governor or trusted member of the school community, who is not otherwise involved in the administration of the KS2 tests, to observe their administration.
This virtual session is designed to support governors in undertaking this role successfully. It will include information about test procedures, including what is and is not permitted during the tests; test storage and security before, during and after the tests and ensuring the test rooms and test administrators are prepared for the tests. There will also be time to ask any questions you might 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. 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: If you would like to attend the session, please email [email protected] and you will be sent the virtual meeting link.
All of the sessions listed below have now been completed:
Autumn 2024
New to Year 6 assessment
Suitable for: Any teachers new, or returning, to Year 6
Delivery method: Face to face
| Date | Time | Venue |
| Tuesday 12 November 2024 | 9:30am-3:30pm | Moreton Hall Community Centre, Symonds Hall, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 7EE. |
| Wednesday 20 November 2024 | 9:30am-3:30pm | Carlton Colville Primary School, Gisleham Road, Lowestoft, NR33 8DG. |
Course outline: 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, who have not taught Year 6 before or who are returning to Year 6. 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. 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 £50. Please note – lunch is not provided.
How to apply: Apply for a place on New to Year 6
Making your Teacher Assessment in Year 6
Suitable for: Any Year 6 teachers
Delivery method: Face to face
| Date | Time | Venue |
| Monday 2 December 2024 | 1pm-4pm | Pinewood Community Hall, Laburnum Close, Ipswich, IP8 3SL. |
| Tuesday 3 December 2024 | 1pm-4pm | Moreton Hall Community Centre, Symonds Hall, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 7EE. |
| Wednesday 4 December 2024 | 1pm-4pm | 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. 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 Making your Teacher Assessment in Year 6