National curriculum assessments: monitoring and moderation agreements
Guidance for local authorities, academies and independent schools on implementing monitoring and moderation agreements for the national curriculum assessments.
Statutory requirements
Local authorities, academies and participating independent schools must put in place monitoring and moderation agreements for the national curriculum assessments each year. Their individual responsibilities are outlined below:
Local authorities
Local authorities are responsible for ensuring their geographic academies have an agreement in place for:
- monitoring the phonics screening check
- monitoring the key stage 2 (KS2) tests
- moderation of KS2 teacher assessment
Local authorities may also put in place monitoring and moderation agreements with non-geographic academies or participating independent schools – see more information below. Where this is the case, local authorities must ensure that agreements are in place before the deadlines outlined in the ‘important dates’ section.
Once schools have confirmed their arrangements for the academic year, we will email local authorities a final list of schools for monitoring and moderation. Local authorities will need to review this list and report any inaccuracies to the national curriculum assessments helpline by the deadline on 0300 303 3013 or at assessments@education.gov.uk.
Academies
Academies must put in place a written agreement with their chosen local authority for:
- monitoring the phonics screening check
- monitoring the KS2 tests
- moderation of KS2 teacher assessment
If academies choose their geographic local authority, they do not need to notify us.
If academies choose a non-geographic local authority, they must:
- notify us by submitting the ‘Select local authority – monitoring’ form in the ‘Available activity’ section of the Primary Assessment Gateway (PAG) by Friday 10 January 2025
- inform their geographic local authority, to ensure they are aware and can avoid chasing moderation agreements and incorrect records
If academies do not notify us of their chosen non-geographic local authority by the deadline, the PAG will automatically register their geographic local authority.
Independent schools
Participating independent schools must put in place a written agreement with their chosen local authority for:
- monitoring the KS2 tests
- moderation of KS2 teacher assessment, if submitting data
All participating independent schools must confirm which local authority they have chosen, by submitting the ‘Select local authority for independent schools’ form in the ‘Available activity’ section of the PAG by Friday 6 December 2024.
If independent schools do not confirm their chosen local authority by the deadline, their KS2 test orders will be cancelled.
Important dates
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Monday 14 October 2024 | Academies and participating schools can confirm their chosen local authority for monitoring and moderation on the PAG |
| Friday 6 December 2024 | Deadline for participating independent schools to implement a monitoring and moderation agreement and confirm their chosen local authority on the PAG |
| Friday 10 January 2025 | Deadline for academies to implement a monitoring and moderation agreement and confirm if they have chosen a non-geographic local authority on the PAG |
| Tuesday 21 January 2025 | Local authorities receive their final list of schools for monitoring and moderation in the academic year 2024 to 2025, to review |
| Friday 31 January 2025 | Deadline for local authorities to report any inaccuracies within their final list of schools for monitoring and moderation to the national curriculum assessments helpline |