Margaret and Jo are the authors of Bite into Writing, NFER's resource to support teachers with the teaching and assessment of writing. They have worked closely together since 2012, predominantly on the teacher assessment and moderation of writing at key stages 1 and 2. They were part of the core group which advised the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) on the English writing interim teacher assessment frameworks, and which developed the original national exemplification materials. They have played a key role in producing national standardisation and moderator training materials, designed to support local authority moderators across England, and in British International schools, in ensuring that statutory teacher assessment judgements are consistent with national standards.
They have also been senior external moderators working on behalf of the STA, visiting more than sixty local authorities between them, meeting teachers and moderators, and observing key stage 2 writing moderation practice.
They are passionate about writing, about the power of quality texts to stimulate children to write, and – above all – the power of ‘reading with a writer’s eye’ to enable pupils to regard themselves as writers.