The Pobble blog

Moderation shouldn’t be a one-off Summer Term task. When Assessment and English Leads plan together throughout the year, moderation becomes a powerful driver of consistency, confidence, and celebration, not just compliance.

Why assessment and English Leads must work hand in hand on moderation

Strong assessment practice doesn’t happen by chance; it is built through purposeful collaboration. When Assessment and English Leads work together on planning and delivering moderation throughout the year, they create a culture of professional confidence, shared understanding, and consistency in teacher judgment.

Moderation isn’t just something to “get through” at the end of the year. It is a vital part of professional development: a chance for teachers to deepen their understanding of standards, reflect on pupil progress, and celebrate what children can really do. When moderation is well considered, positive, and purposeful, it becomes one of the most powerful tools for improving writing outcomes across a school or trust.

Making moderation matter

Too often, moderation can feel high-stakes or rushed. However, when it is planned and embedded throughout the year, it becomes part of a healthy assessment culture that builds teacher confidence and accuracy in equal measure.

When Assessment and English Leads plan together, they can:

• Map a clear moderation journey across the year, connecting internal reviews to curriculum milestones.

• Create space for reflection, not just evaluation.

• Ensure every moderation conversation is developmental, helping teachers celebrate success and identify next steps with clarity and positivity.

These shared discussions strengthen professional trust and ensure that statutory moderation, when it comes, feels like a natural continuation of best practice rather than an external inspection.

Valuing external validation

External moderation, whether statutory or otherwise, should never be feared. It is an opportunity for professional growth and reassurance. External moderators work free of bias; they do not know the pupils and can therefore look at the evidence base objectively. This provides valuable external validation of teachers’ judgments and affirms the integrity of your school’s assessment practice.

For teachers, these sessions also provide a chance to step back and see the bigger picture. There is real value in celebrating both embedded and emerging skills, rather than being in marking mode and focusing solely on next steps. That perspective is powerful, helping teachers see progress through a broader, more confident lens.

Every school has a choice

Academies have the freedom to choose their statutory moderation provider, and the deadline for confirming that choice is not until January 9th. This decision should not be left to chance. Choosing the right moderation partner ensures that your school or trust benefits from a process that is developmental, supportive, and led by experts who understand your context.

Importantly, all schools, not just academies, can choose to engage in expert-led, external moderation. These sessions provide invaluable opportunities for teachers to benchmark judgments, build confidence, and engage in professional dialogue throughout the year.

External moderation can also be delivered through peer moderation models within or across schools and trusts. If this is your chosen approach, make sure that:

• Every moderator or facilitator is properly trained.

• They are clear on the purpose and focus of each moderation session.

• They reference your school or MAT’s assessment criteria accurately and consistently.

• Every session remains positive, purposeful, and professional.

Well-planned moderation, led or supported by those with expertise, helps to build confidence, consistency, and celebration throughout the school.

To support schools and trusts in reflecting on their current approach, Pobble has created a free Moderation SWOT Analysis Template. It helps leaders identify strengths, areas for development, opportunities for collaboration, and any potential challenges in their moderation systems.

This simple but powerful tool provides a starting point for strategic reflection and forward planning.

Download your free Moderation SWOT Template

Choosing the right partners

Who you partner with for external validation, including statutory moderation at the end of Key Stage 2, really matters. You are not just choosing a service; you are selecting professionals who will guide, challenge, and affirm your team. A strong moderation partner will:

• Bring clarity and consistency to teacher judgments.

• Offer developmental feedback.

• Build teacher confidence and celebrate excellent practice.

When moderation is planned collaboratively, delivered positively, and supported by trusted external validation, it becomes a cornerstone of professional development rather than a compliance exercise.

Get support

Want help reviewing your assessment and moderation options for the year ahead?

Complete Pobble’s Moderation SWOT analysis to reflect on where you are now, or reach out directly to:

📧 Laura Bailey, Head of Assessment and Moderation - laura@pobble.com