Schools quality assurance

We teach primary sector unit standards with the ‘real world’ in mind, so students can apply what they have learned at school when they work in primary sectors.


Our Academic Integrity Team monitors the quality of assessment across the primary industry sectors we serve. The team ensures: 

  • assessment materials and assessor practices are fair, valid, and consistent 
  • students meet the national industry standard.

This page covers what we expect of industry training in schools and offers resources.

- Expectations of industry training undertaken in schools

- Verifiers and assessors have different roles 

- Level 3 programmes require resources and workplace opportunities 

- Moderation ensures standards are consistent 

- Schools need Consent to Assess to deliver unit standards  

- Stay up to date with our newsletters 

- Draw on our resources 

Verifiers and assessors have different roles

Both verifiers and assessors play important roles in quality assurance.

A verifier:

  • confirms that a student can consistently perform specified tasks to the required standard and give evidence to the assessor 
  • supports the assessor in making the assessment decision 
  • may be an employer, coach, supervisor, or a contractor at the workplace (like a vet). 

An assessor:

  • carries out the actual assessment by reviewing all the evidence on a learner’s performance — typically  their answers to questions, workplace documents, and verification 
  • talks to verifiers to confirm the verifiers’ judgements and comments, and records the discussion 
  • makes the final decision on competency. 

Confirming the verifiers’ judgements and comments is important. Verifiers are not trained in assessment and may not fully understand the standards or learning outcomes. Assessors should record conversations and verifier observations for moderation purposes.

Level 3 programmes require resources and workplace opportunities 

More schools are considering offering Level 3 primary industry unit standards to year 13 students. 

Schools offering these programmes need to have the resources and workplace opportunities for students to achieve the required standard. We will look closely to see that this is the case. 

Level 3 students usually already have some background in the primary sector.  

Level 3 needs a much deeper level of understanding and application than Level 2. Students must spend considerable time on farms or in workplaces throughout the programme. They must work to the same standard as someone in workplace training. 

Contact your relevant Schools Pathways and Partnership Adviser if you have questions on delivery and assessment.  


Moderation ensures standards are consistent 

Moderation applies standards validly and consistently by monitoring and evaluating assessment documentation and decisions. 

Moderation has two parts: pre-assessment and post-assessment. Both parts give schools a chance to get structured feedback from colleagues on teaching and assessment materials. 

Pre-assessment moderation ensures the assessment material meets the national standard. We recommend schools use Primary ITO assessment tools wherever possible. Where these are not available and schools develop their own assessment resources, the school’s resources must be pre-moderated by Muka Tangata Workforce Development Council  before use. 

For more on pre-assessment moderation, go to Muka Tangata WDC.


Post-assessment moderation  

Post-assessment moderation involves checking that assessors’ decisions meet the national standard, and are fair, valid, and consistent.  

We moderate Trade Academy schools by post, on cluster moderation days, or both. 

Cluster moderation days give teachers a chance to meet, get moderation feedback, and be part of a community of best practice.  

For more on post-assessment moderation, email [email protected]

Draw on our resources 

We’ve designed these resources to support schools and assessors. 

Resources for assessing learners 

Use our assessment resources where possible.  

See our latest assessment materials in our Resources Store (requires login)

Create a login account, or find out more from our schools team at [email protected]. 

Tutor and assessor resources 

We have assessor guides, and literacy and numeracy resources to support assessors and learners.  

Explore the resources here.

Professional Development Session for Schools