Focus areas
- Building a shared understanding of assessment for learning across all year levels and learning areas, ensuring assessment is used to inform and enhance teaching practice.
- Strengthening kaiako and leader confidence in gathering and interpreting a range of evidence - including observations, conversations, student work, and data - to guide next steps in learning.
- Effective moderation, reporting, and data analysis as part of a continuous cycle of professional inquiry and improvement.
- Using established assessment tools such as PaCT, AsTTle, and PAT, alongside locally developed approaches that reflect school priorities and learner contexts.
- Preparing for the new SMART (Student Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting Tool) - a national system set to replace e-asTTle in 2026. SMART will enable twice-yearly assessments in reading, writing, mathematics, pānui, tuhituhi, and pāngarau, offering up-to-date technology aligned with the refreshed National Curriculum.
- Enhancing leadership capability to create cohesive assessment systems that connect curriculum, pedagogy, and evidence-based decision making.
Who it’s for:
Teachers, and leaders in Years 0–8 who want to:
- Deepen understanding of effective assessment practice.
- Use assessment to guide intentional, targeted teaching.
- Build consistency and coherence across school systems.
Our Facilitators
Assessment PLD is delivered by:
- David Bradford, Rhian Johnson, Ruth Foulkes and Pip Newick (from Te Whai Toi Tangata)
- Dr Elizabeth Eley, Renee Jepson, and Tanya Savage (from Poutama Pounamu)
These facilitators bring deep expertise in formative assessment, culturally sustaining pedagogy, data-informed decision making, and leadership development.
Delivery
Flexible and context-driven – combining in-person and online sessions across six PLD days and eight CoPs.
Preferred provider
If your school or kura is approved for Aromatawai and Assessment PLD, you can select the University of Waikato as your preferred provider through the Ministry of Education PLD portal.