Using the P Scaleslaunch conferences 2009

Richard Byers

University of Cambridge

Faculty of Education

In ‘Using the P scales’, moderation is defined as:• a process that enables staff and

others to review and confirm assessment judgements.

The key purpose of moderation is:• to help schools ensure that

assessment judgements are sound and consistent.

‘Using the P scales’ provides guidance on moderation at three levels:

• in class teams and in teaching groups within a school

• across a whole school

• between schools in clusters, local authorities and regional or national groupings.

‘Using the P Scales’ can support ASSESSMENT by helping staff to:

• use the P scales to make judgements about individual pupils’ attainments below level 1 of the National Curriculum

• record and share summative assessments.

‘Using the P Scales’ can support MODERATION by helping staff to:

• compare and adjust judgements made using P scales within a class, department, key stage team or school

• share and compare judgements made using P scales between schools, across local authorities and more widely.

‘Using the P Scales’ can also:

• help staff to REPORT judgments that are sound and consistent – for example, to parents or to other professionals

• support school development by helping staff to EVALUATE and IMPROVE teaching and learning using aggregated assessment data