Moderation Processes

The purpose of moderation is to ensure consistency of assessment between schools and to provide professional development and support.

The Tools4Work moderation team constantly reviews unit standard assessment activities at schools throughout New Zealand. Most schools are moderated every two years.

In most cases a regional moderator visits a teacher at the school to conduct the moderation process. A Tools4Work regional moderator will contact the school in Term 1 to make arrangements for the planned moderation.

The teacher is required to present benchmark samples of student work, along with the Tools4Work cover sheet and the required supporting documentation.

The moderator checks and validates the teacher's assessments, and provides on the spot verbal feedback, which is recorded on the School Assessment Moderation Report. A copy of the report is left with the school for circulation and review.

Feedback from the moderation process is designed to professionally support teachers and provide feedback into the assessment process which is timely, accurate, fair and detailed, constructive and transparent.

In case of any disagreement, appeals can be made to the National Moderator; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with further redress to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , General Manager Quality Assurance and then to John Blakey, CEO Competenz.

At the end of each year the Regional Moderators convene to discuss any variables or common areas of concern, and the Tools4Work national moderation report is finalised and issued to the Ministry of Education, the Education Review Office (ERO), the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), the Industry Training Federation (ITF) and all New Zealand secondary schools for the start of the following year.

Click here for a copy of our Moderation Report for 2009.

Support and professional development

Where a Teacher requires further support or professional development, initial arrangements can be made with the Tools4Work Regional Moderator. For more information see Professional Development.

Scheduling of moderations

Tools4Work moderations are scheduled to cover approximately 1/3 of our registered schools every year.

Additional moderation and assessment support is available on request.

Moderation is also available for schools wishing to use engineering projects and selected unit standards which fall outside the scope of the Tools4Work pre-moderated resources.

Regional Moderators

Tools4Work has moderators working regionally throughout New Zealand.

Click here to find the contact details of the Tools4Work moderators in your region.

For more information contact Brian Lane the Tools4Work National Moderator at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 027 243 7367

Moderation forms, coversheets and procedures

Click here to download the latest versions of the Competenz/Tools4Work moderation forms and coversheets.