Create an appraisal cycle with weighted criteria
On Appraisals & Training > Cycles click New cycle, name it, set start and end dates and list rating criteria whose weights add up to 100. It starts as Draft.
For School administrators, HR managers. Updated 2026-10-09.
Overview
A cycle is one appraisal period (for example "Term 1 appraisal 2026/27"). On the Cycles tab click New cycle (needs the “add appraisal” permission). Fields: Cycle name (3 to 80 characters, must be unique: "There is already an appraisal cycle with that name."), Starts, Ends (due date), and "What staff are rated on" (the criteria).
Each criterion has a label (2 to 80 characters) and a weight. You can add up to 12 criteria with Add criterion, and the weights must add up to exactly 100 ("The criteria weights must add up to 100").
The form starts with defaults: Quality of work 25, Reliability and punctuality 20, Teamwork and communication 20, Initiative and growth 20 and Professional conduct 15. The end date cannot be before the start date. Cycle statuses: Draft (can be edited and deleted), Open (staff are being appraised), Closed (locked).
While a cycle is Draft you can edit everything. Once open, only name and dates can change; the criteria are fixed ("because staff are already being rated on them"). Closed cycles cannot be changed. Only a Draft cycle can be deleted (the “edit appraisal” permission). Each score is a whole number from 1 to 5 per criterion.
The overall score is the weighted average, mapped to a rating: 4.5 and above Outstanding, 3.5 to 4.49 Exceeds expectations, 2.5 to 3.49 Meets expectations, below 2.5 Needs improvement.
Before you start
- The “add appraisal” permission permission
Steps
- Open Appraisals & Training > Cycles.
- Click New cycle.
- Enter a unique Cycle name and the Starts and Ends dates.
- Review or edit the criteria and weights so the total is 100.
- Use Add criterion for more (maximum 12) or Remove criterion to drop one.
- Save. The cycle is created as Draft; open it when ready.
Common problems
"The criteria weights must add up to 100."
Adjust the weights until the total shown equals 100.
"There is already an appraisal cycle with that name."
Cycle names are unique per school. Use a different name such as adding the term or year.
I cannot change criteria on my cycle.
Criteria are fixed once a cycle is open. Only Draft cycles allow criteria changes; delete and recreate a Draft if needed.