Services For Education delivers statutory duties regarding primary assessment on behalf of Birmingham Local Authority.
We are in a unique position to provide the best support, guidance and training for primary schools to best prepare for the requirements of statutory assessment in KS1 and KS2.
2026/27
Assessment
Monday 16th Nov 2026
£328.00
2026/27
£85.00
2026/27
Assessment
Multiple DatesNext: 23/11/2026
£328.00
2026-27
Assessment
Wednesday 10th Feb 2027
£199.00
2026/27
Assessment
Interim Writing Moderation at KS1 – For New to and Experienced Year 2 Teachers (Centre-Based)
Tuesday 9th Mar 2027
£328.00
2026/27
Assessment
Interim Writing Moderation at KS2 – For New to and Experienced Year 6 Teachers (Centre-Based)
Thursday 11th Mar 2027
£328.00
2026/27
£55.00
2026/27
£199.00
2026/27
2026/27
Assessment
End of Year Peer Writing Moderation at KS1 – For Year 2 Teachers (Centre-Based)
Friday 11th Jun 2027
£199.00
Our School Support Service is commissioned to provide the management of the Statutory Assessment Duty on behalf of Birmingham Local Authority (LA).
This duty includes the delivery of this service to LA maintained schools. In addition, academy and free schools who are required to comply with the guidance as set out annually by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) should confirm a contract with ourselves annually.
Independent schools may also subscribe to this service if they choose to confirm a written agreement with Services For Education, on behalf of Birmingham Local Authority, and submit KS2 data directly to DfE through the Primary Assessment Gateway.
In addition to undertaking moderation and monitoring services, we are in a perfect position to provide support, guidance and training for primary schools to best prepare for the requirements of statutory assessment in KS1 and KS2.
Our team of experts and STA Approved moderators can provide centre-based, in-school or cross MAT moderation to ensure all schools are secure in their teacher judgements and assessment procedures.
For more information or to subscribe please contact us.Â
Claire Steele - Adviser, Services For Education
With over 20 years of experience in primary education, Claire Steele is a respected and committed school leader who has worked across a diverse range of schools and multi-academy trusts.
Her previous roles include Assistant Principal, Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), SENCo, and Senior Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead. She has also worked extensively with partners to support the delivery of a wide range of National Professional Qualifications (NPQs). Claire also holds the NPQSL, NPQLTD and NPQSENCO.
Claire is deeply passionate about creating safe, inclusive, and nurturing school environments, where the well-being of pupils is at the heart of practice. She brings her extensive knowledge, dedication, and enthusiasm to Services For Education, supporting schools in embedding effective and compassionate safeguarding and SEND practices at every level.
As part of the team of advisers at Services For Education, Claire champions SEND and equality, ensuring these values remain central to all aspects of her work. Most recently, she has developed the newly launched SEND offer from Services For Education. She also delivers high-quality safeguarding training and conducts comprehensive safeguarding audits in schools.
From the academic year 2023-24, the end of KS1 assessments have ceased to be statutory. STA guidance for those schools who wish to continue to benchmark their pupils’ performance at end of KS1 is available here:
National curriculum assessments: optional key stage 1 tests
We know that schools, whether they use the national benchmarking materials or not, will continue to make teacher assessments to inform classroom practice and to understand pupil performance. This process often includes internal moderation and external moderation i.e., across MATs/Consortia and/or citywide centre-based moderation.
This may be conducted in-centre through STA accredited moderator led, peer moderation with schools from across the city or can be purchased on an individual or group consultancy basis by completion of an optional written agreement. Look out for further details of these opportunities or contact us via hello@servicesforeducation.co.uk to discuss.
Services For Education, School Support Service, work on behalf of Birmingham Local Authority to organise, manage and deliver statutory assessment duty for KS1 and KS2.Â
The local authority has a responsibility to conduct moderation of teacher judgements in at least 25% of its schools and settings each year and in at least 25% of those academies and free schools that choose Birmingham as their moderation provider.Â
Have you ever thought about becoming a key stage 2 moderator? Many of our moderation team, having been moderated in their own schools and supported by their head teacher, have successfully completed the application process. This presentation will guide you through the application process and will give you an insight into what this unique opportunity will entail. Watch the webinar here:Â
To apply, simply send in a personal statement (no more then 2 sides of A4), incorporating the following:Â
- Recent and relevant experience of KS2 writing assessment and of internal/external moderationÂ
- Your understanding of the key principles of effective moderation and standardisationÂ
- Your experience of working with other schoolsÂ
- Your interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work with other professionalsÂ
- Your skills and confidence in giving accurate and clear feedback to Head Teachers, senior leaders and practitionersÂ
- Your skills and experience in influencing, supporting and challenging colleagues Â
In addition to this, you will need to send in a short statement from your Head Teacher (if you are not the Head yourself) supporting your application and outlining the experience which you hold relevant to this role. Â
Being a KS2 writing moderator is a privilege – we get to visit many schools, discuss writing with a range of teachers and school leaders, and read a range of children’s writing – but it is also a significant time commitment, especially during the moderation window in June. The moderators’ training and working time is paid for (directly to the school) to account for this, once you have qualified as an STA (Standards and Testing Agency) accredited moderator for Key Stage 2 statutory teacher assessment (TA) of writing.Â
This is an invaluable opportunity to deepen your understanding of writing assessment and pedagogy, and to become more aware of the various ways in which schools successfully support, develop and challenge pupils to demonstrate their writing ability and achieve their potential. We look forward to receiving your application and to welcoming you onto our team.Â
Closing Date for Applications: Tuesday 29th September 2026Â
If you are successful, you will be invited to interview w/c 5th October 2026.Â
Please get in touch at sharon.noble@servicesforeducation.co.uk if you have any questions regarding becoming a Moderator in 2026/27. Â
Our SFE Adviser was a fantastic tutor. I thought I would find this quite a boring and monotonous subject to get a day out of. But it was full of really interesting insights, conversation and tips. She had a way with words that kept us all engaged and energised. Thanks for a great session I’ve learned a lot from this session.
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CONNOR GRAFTON, CLASS TEACHER AND DSL – STARBANK, STARBANK ROAD
Over the past 18 months, SFE has led moderation training in reading, writing and mathematics within our school and across all year groups. As a result, staff have been upskilled and are more confident in making teacher assessments which has been instrumental in rising standards at Barford Primary School.
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This good work has also been validated in our OFSTED report (Sept 22) where inspectors highlighted the success of the developments (including training) that had contributed to the progress in the core subjects.
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More recently, SFE was asked to lead our Ladywood Consortium Moderation; they are currently supporting six other schools within our the consortium – sharing good practice, offering support and contributing to raising standards across Birmingham schools.
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JO DAVIES, HEADTEACHER – BARFORD PRIMARY SCHOOL
Absolutely fantastic! I have a much clearer understanding of where my children need to be in their writing. Thank you so much.
St Margaret Mary Primary Catholic Primary, Assistant Head Teacher
As always, the session was excellent – so useful! Lots of vital reminders and full of golden tips and strategies.
Nishkam Primary School, Class Teacher
I just wanted to email you to thank you personally for today’s KS2 course – it was great! You jam packed it full, with excellent content and a perfect balance of going through content and then looking at the writing pieces at the end to moderate.
Sarah Richards, Head of Department – BEST Academies
Our adviser was very thorough and informative as always and gave time for delegates to ask questions. She was able to provide all the necessary information needed to ensure the PSC is administered correctly within schools.
Jessica Sparkes, Assistant Headteacher – Yarnfield Primary School
Our adviser was a fantastic presenter and was extremely knowledgeable in all areas of the screening check. All our questions were answered with ease.
Helen Griffin, Classroom Teacher – Arden Primary School
Absolutely fantastic! I have a much clearer understanding of where my children need to be in their writing. Thank you so much.
ASSISTANT HEADTEACHER – ST MARGARET MARY PRIMARY CATHOLIC
I really enjoyed the session and it has definitely left me with some food for thought moving forward with my class. Thank you for all of the useful information provided. Much appreciated.
CLASS TEACHER – CITY ROAD PRIMARY SCHOOL
Emma Mudge - Adviser, Services For Education
Emma has more than 20 years' experience in primary education and has worked in a variety of roles, including Assistant Head Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher and Acting Head Teacher - working at the forefront of school leadership and improvement for the majority of her career.
Emma now works as an Educational Adviser, sharing her experience and knowledge to continually promote and improve the standard of teaching and learning in English, develop and extend the safeguarding culture within schools and to support leaders with their school improvement implementation overall.
Supporting schools with the accuracy of their writing assessments is an important part of her role, using her expertise as the moderation and monitoring manager to inform, train and support teachers and school leaders.
Emma is also part of the team which delivers the Health For Life programme (improving the healthy opportunities for primary aged children) and has delivered the NPQSL for 3 years, where she proudly supports the development of our aspiring leaders in the city.
Nasra Hussain, Education Adviser for Safeguarding, Services For Education
With over 18 years of experience in education, including 15 years as a senior leader, Nasra is a highly respected and dedicated practitioner who has contributed to a wide range of school settings. Her leadership roles have included Designated Safeguarding Lead, Assistant Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher and Specialist Leader in Education (SLE), supporting school improvement, leadership development and high‑quality teaching and learning.
Nasra has extensive experience assessing National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) and has coached and supported leaders and teams at all levels. She currently works as a Consultant Advisory Teacher and serves as a charity trustee, championing inclusive practice and strengthening community engagement. Nasra has also served as a governor and is currently a member of an Interim Executive Board in Birmingham.
A committed advocate for safeguarding and for building strong relationships with families and communities, Nasra brings compassion, clarity and a values‑driven approach to her work. Her expertise also includes serving as a Key Stage 2 moderator and contributing as a regular panel member for the Standards and Testing Agency, reviewing national SATs materials to ensure fairness, accuracy and national consistency.
Nasra’s work is grounded in a deep belief in equity, empowerment and the transformative impact of education. She combines breadth of experience with a collaborative, purposeful approach, making a meaningful difference to the schools and communities she serves.
Claire Steele - Adviser, Services For Education
With over 20 years of experience in primary education, Claire Steele is a respected and committed school leader who has worked across a diverse range of schools and multi-academy trusts.
Her previous roles include Assistant Principal, Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), SENCo, and Senior Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead. She has also worked extensively with partners to support the delivery of a wide range of National Professional Qualifications (NPQs). Claire also holds the NPQSL, NPQLTD and NPQSENCO.
Claire is deeply passionate about creating safe, inclusive, and nurturing school environments, where the well-being of pupils is at the heart of practice. She brings her extensive knowledge, dedication, and enthusiasm to Services For Education, supporting schools in embedding effective and compassionate safeguarding and SEND practices at every level.
As part of the team of advisers at Services For Education, Claire champions SEND and equality, ensuring these values remain central to all aspects of her work. Most recently, she has developed the newly launched SEND offer from Services For Education. She also delivers high-quality safeguarding training and conducts comprehensive safeguarding audits in schools.
