WebPA
What it is
WebPA is a free, open-source web application for peer and self-assessment in higher-education group work. It combines student assessments with a group mark to calculate individual grades, and includes rubric scoring and moderation tools. WebPA is self-hosted: administrators download the software and configure a local instance, database credentials and environment variables. The latest version lists PHP 7.4 or 8.0 with the MySQLi, Sessions and XML extensions enabled. Composer and the repository release page are download routes. Learning-platform integration is not included in the standard installation, but a separate LTI extension can connect WebPA with LTI-compliant environments such as Blackboard Learn, WebCT and Moodle. Where services are available, the connector can synchronize memberships, groups, outcomes, settings, enrolments, grades and synchronization timestamps. Membership and group services are also available for Moodle and Canvas through their APIs. Setup guidance recommends environment variables for production credentials, changing the default administrator password and deleting the install folder after setup. Loughborough support has ended; the project points to GitHub Issues and the JISC mailing list for support.
For and against
For
- Free under GNU GPL version 3
- Calculates individual grades from peer assessment
- Includes rubrics and moderation tools
- LTI extension supports learning environments
- Self-hosted deployment
Against
- LTI support requires a separate extension
- Requires self-hosting and technical configuration
- Loughborough project support has ended
- Requires PHP 7.4 or 8.0
The verdict
WebPA provides peer and self-assessment workflows for higher-education group assignments without a listed charge. Institutions must handle hosting, setup and optional LTI integration themselves.
Who it suits
WebPA is intended for higher-education teams using peer assessment for student group work. It suits institutions able to host and configure a PHP/MySQLi-based application.
On the record
- Audience
- The project describes WebPA as an online peer assessment tool for higher education.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Hosting
- The installation instructions describe configuring the application, database credentials, and environment variables for a WebPA instance.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Initial setup
- The README says to change the default admin password after logging in and delete the install folder when setup is finished.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The README gives Composer as a download method and also links to the repository's release page.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Integration services
- The LTI Connector can use available membership, group, outcome, and settings services to synchronize enrolments, groups, grades, and synchronization timestamps.spvsoftwareproducts.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- WebPA is designed for teams of students doing group work in higher education.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Learning platform integration
- LTI support is not included in the standard installation and can be added with an extension.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- LTI capabilities
- The LTI extension documentation describes connecting to LTI-compliant virtual learning environments and synchronizing memberships, groups, and grades when the relevant services are available.webpaproject.lboro.ac.uk · read 4 Oct 2026
- LTI integration
- The standard installation does not include LTI support; the README says it can be added with a separate extension.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Maintainer
- The README says WebPA was originally developed by Loughborough University's Centre for Engineering and Design Education with financial support from JISC, and is maintained by open-source contributors.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Moodle and Canvas
- The LTI Connector page says its memberships and groups services are also available for Moodle and Canvas instances via their APIs.spvsoftwareproducts.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Open source
- WebPA is distributed under the GNU General Public License version 3.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Open source license
- WebPA is distributed under the GNU General Public License version 3.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Pricing
- The project describes WebPA as freely available for everyone to use within their teaching.webpaproject.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Project status
- The project site says Loughborough's support for the WebPA Project has ended and archived documentation is available on GitHub.webpaproject.lboro.ac.uk · read 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- WebPA is an online peer assessment system for student teams, using peer and self-grading to help determine individual grades from a group mark.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- The README lists PHP 7.4 or 8.0, with MySQLi, Sessions, and XML extensions enabled.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Security configuration
- The installation README advises using environment variables for production credentials because storing sensitive credentials in a .env file could be a security risk.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
