diff --git a/lib/form/dateselector.php b/lib/form/dateselector.php
index 29957e3d904..0c8ed846a3c 100644
--- a/lib/form/dateselector.php
+++ b/lib/form/dateselector.php
@@ -130,18 +130,18 @@ class MoodleQuickForm_date_selector extends MoodleQuickForm_group {
         $dateformat = $calendartype->get_date_order($this->_options['startyear'], $this->_options['stopyear']);
         foreach ($dateformat as $key => $value) {
             // E_STRICT creating elements without forms is nasty because it internally uses $this
-            $this->_elements[] = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('select', $key, get_string($key, 'form'), $value, $this->getAttributes(), true);
+            $this->_elements[] = $this->createFormElement('select', $key, get_string($key, 'form'), $value, $this->getAttributes(), true);
         }
         // The YUI2 calendar only supports the gregorian calendar type so only display the calendar image if this is being used.
         if ($calendartype->get_name() === 'gregorian') {
             $image = $OUTPUT->pix_icon('i/calendar', get_string('calendar', 'calendar'), 'moodle');
-            $this->_elements[] = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('link', 'calendar',
+            $this->_elements[] = $this->createFormElement('link', 'calendar',
                     null, '#', $image,
                     array('class' => 'visibleifjs'));
         }
         // If optional we add a checkbox which the user can use to turn if on
         if ($this->_options['optional']) {
-            $this->_elements[] = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('checkbox', 'enabled', null, get_string('enable'), $this->getAttributes(), true);
+            $this->_elements[] = $this->createFormElement('checkbox', 'enabled', null, get_string('enable'), $this->getAttributes(), true);
         }
         foreach ($this->_elements as $element){
             if (method_exists($element, 'setHiddenLabel')){
@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@ class MoodleQuickForm_date_selector extends MoodleQuickForm_group {
      * @return bool
      */
     function onQuickFormEvent($event, $arg, &$caller) {
+        $this->setMoodleForm($caller);
         switch ($event) {
             case 'updateValue':
                 // Constant values override both default and submitted ones
diff --git a/lib/form/datetimeselector.php b/lib/form/datetimeselector.php
index 8055f026e6f..760deae5ba0 100644
--- a/lib/form/datetimeselector.php
+++ b/lib/form/datetimeselector.php
@@ -139,25 +139,25 @@ class MoodleQuickForm_date_time_selector extends MoodleQuickForm_group {
         $dateformat = $calendartype->get_date_order($this->_options['startyear'], $this->_options['stopyear']);
         foreach ($dateformat as $key => $date) {
             // E_STRICT creating elements without forms is nasty because it internally uses $this
-            $this->_elements[] = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('select', $key, get_string($key, 'form'), $date, $this->getAttributes(), true);
+            $this->_elements[] = $this->createFormElement('select', $key, get_string($key, 'form'), $date, $this->getAttributes(), true);
         }
         if (right_to_left()) {   // Switch order of elements for Right-to-Left
-            $this->_elements[] = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('select', 'minute', get_string('minute', 'form'), $minutes, $this->getAttributes(), true);
-            $this->_elements[] = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('select', 'hour', get_string('hour', 'form'), $hours, $this->getAttributes(), true);
+            $this->_elements[] = $this->createFormElement('select', 'minute', get_string('minute', 'form'), $minutes, $this->getAttributes(), true);
+            $this->_elements[] = $this->createFormElement('select', 'hour', get_string('hour', 'form'), $hours, $this->getAttributes(), true);
         } else {
-            $this->_elements[] = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('select', 'hour', get_string('hour', 'form'), $hours, $this->getAttributes(), true);
-            $this->_elements[] = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('select', 'minute', get_string('minute', 'form'), $minutes, $this->getAttributes(), true);
+            $this->_elements[] = $this->createFormElement('select', 'hour', get_string('hour', 'form'), $hours, $this->getAttributes(), true);
+            $this->_elements[] = $this->createFormElement('select', 'minute', get_string('minute', 'form'), $minutes, $this->getAttributes(), true);
         }
         // The YUI2 calendar only supports the gregorian calendar type so only display the calendar image if this is being used.
         if ($calendartype->get_name() === 'gregorian') {
             $image = $OUTPUT->pix_icon('i/calendar', get_string('calendar', 'calendar'), 'moodle');
-            $this->_elements[] = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('link', 'calendar',
+            $this->_elements[] = $this->createFormElement('link', 'calendar',
                     null, '#', $image,
                     array('class' => 'visibleifjs'));
         }
         // If optional we add a checkbox which the user can use to turn if on
         if ($this->_options['optional']) {
-            $this->_elements[] = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('checkbox', 'enabled', null, get_string('enable'), $this->getAttributes(), true);
+            $this->_elements[] = $this->createFormElement('checkbox', 'enabled', null, get_string('enable'), $this->getAttributes(), true);
         }
         foreach ($this->_elements as $element){
             if (method_exists($element, 'setHiddenLabel')){
@@ -176,6 +176,7 @@ class MoodleQuickForm_date_time_selector extends MoodleQuickForm_group {
      * @return bool
      */
     function onQuickFormEvent($event, $arg, &$caller) {
+        $this->setMoodleForm($caller);
         switch ($event) {
             case 'updateValue':
                 // Constant values override both default and submitted ones
diff --git a/lib/form/duration.php b/lib/form/duration.php
index ab2d43462ac..c921d1432b2 100644
--- a/lib/form/duration.php
+++ b/lib/form/duration.php
@@ -144,12 +144,12 @@ class MoodleQuickForm_duration extends MoodleQuickForm_group {
         }
         $this->_elements = array();
         // E_STRICT creating elements without forms is nasty because it internally uses $this
-        $this->_elements[] = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('text', 'number', get_string('time', 'form'), $attributes, true);
+        $this->_elements[] = $this->createFormElement('text', 'number', get_string('time', 'form'), $attributes, true);
         unset($attributes['size']);
-        $this->_elements[] = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('select', 'timeunit', get_string('timeunit', 'form'), $this->get_units(), $attributes, true);
+        $this->_elements[] = $this->createFormElement('select', 'timeunit', get_string('timeunit', 'form'), $this->get_units(), $attributes, true);
         // If optional we add a checkbox which the user can use to turn if on
         if($this->_options['optional']) {
-            $this->_elements[] = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('checkbox', 'enabled', null, get_string('enable'), $this->getAttributes(), true);
+            $this->_elements[] = $this->createFormElement('checkbox', 'enabled', null, get_string('enable'), $this->getAttributes(), true);
         }
         foreach ($this->_elements as $element){
             if (method_exists($element, 'setHiddenLabel')){
@@ -167,6 +167,7 @@ class MoodleQuickForm_duration extends MoodleQuickForm_group {
      * @return bool
      */
     function onQuickFormEvent($event, $arg, &$caller) {
+        $this->setMoodleForm($caller);
         switch ($event) {
             case 'updateValue':
                 // constant values override both default and submitted ones
diff --git a/lib/form/group.php b/lib/form/group.php
index 753977f1087..6750d36258c 100644
--- a/lib/form/group.php
+++ b/lib/form/group.php
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ class MoodleQuickForm_group extends HTML_QuickForm_group{
     /** @var string html for help button, if empty then no help */
     var $_helpbutton='';
 
+    /** @var MoodleQuickForm */
+    protected $_mform = null;
+
     /**
      * constructor
      *
@@ -107,4 +110,41 @@ class MoodleQuickForm_group extends HTML_QuickForm_group{
             }
         }
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Stores the form this element was added to
+     * This object is later used by {@link MoodleQuickForm_group::createElement()}
+     * @param null|MoodleQuickForm $mform
+     */
+    public function setMoodleForm($mform) {
+        if ($mform && $mform instanceof MoodleQuickForm) {
+            $this->_mform = $mform;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Called by HTML_QuickForm whenever form event is made on this element
+     *
+     * If this function is overridden and parent is not called the element must be responsible for
+     * storing the MoodleQuickForm object, see {@link MoodleQuickForm_group::setMoodleForm()}
+     *
+     * @param     string $event Name of event
+     * @param     mixed $arg event arguments
+     * @param     mixed $caller calling object
+     */
+    public function onQuickFormEvent($event, $arg, &$caller) {
+        $this->setMoodleForm($caller);
+        return parent::onQuickFormEvent($event, $arg, $caller);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Creates an element to add to the group
+     * Expects the same arguments as MoodleQuickForm::createElement()
+     */
+    public function createFormElement() {
+        if (!$this->_mform) {
+            throw new coding_exception('You can not call createFormElement() on the group element that was not yet added to a form.');
+        }
+        return call_user_func_array([$this->_mform, 'createElement'], func_get_args());
+    }
 }
diff --git a/lib/form/modgrade.php b/lib/form/modgrade.php
index bced16a4883..1be7cc846c2 100644
--- a/lib/form/modgrade.php
+++ b/lib/form/modgrade.php
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ class MoodleQuickForm_modgrade extends MoodleQuickForm_group {
         // Grade scale select box.
         $scales = get_scales_menu($COURSE->id);
         $langscale = get_string('modgradetypescale', 'grades');
-        $this->scaleformelement = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('select', 'modgrade_scale', $langscale,
+        $this->scaleformelement = $this->createFormElement('select', 'modgrade_scale', $langscale,
             $scales, $attributes);
         $this->scaleformelement->setHiddenLabel = false;
         $scaleformelementid = $this->generate_modgrade_subelement_id('modgrade_scale');
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ class MoodleQuickForm_modgrade extends MoodleQuickForm_group {
 
         // Maximum grade textbox.
         $langmaxgrade = get_string('modgrademaxgrade', 'grades');
-        $this->maxgradeformelement = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('text', 'modgrade_point', $langmaxgrade, array());
+        $this->maxgradeformelement = $this->createFormElement('text', 'modgrade_point', $langmaxgrade, array());
         $this->maxgradeformelement->setHiddenLabel = false;
         $maxgradeformelementid = $this->generate_modgrade_subelement_id('modgrade_point');
         $this->maxgradeformelement->updateAttributes(array('id' => $maxgradeformelementid));
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ class MoodleQuickForm_modgrade extends MoodleQuickForm_group {
             'point' => get_string('modgradetypepoint', 'grades'),
         );
         $langtype = get_string('modgradetype', 'grades');
-        $this->gradetypeformelement = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('select', 'modgrade_type', $langtype, $gradetype,
+        $this->gradetypeformelement = $this->createFormElement('select', 'modgrade_type', $langtype, $gradetype,
             $attributes, true);
         $this->gradetypeformelement->setHiddenLabel = false;
         $gradetypeformelementid = $this->generate_modgrade_subelement_id('modgrade_type');
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ class MoodleQuickForm_modgrade extends MoodleQuickForm_group {
                 $choices[''] = get_string('choose');
                 $choices['no'] = get_string('no');
                 $choices['yes'] = get_string('yes');
-                $rescalegradesselect = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('select',
+                $rescalegradesselect = $this->createFormElement('select',
                     'modgrade_rescalegrades',
                     $langrescalegrades,
                     $choices);
@@ -204,23 +204,23 @@ class MoodleQuickForm_modgrade extends MoodleQuickForm_group {
             }
 
             $gradesexisthtml = '<div class=\'alert\'>' . $gradesexistmsg . '</div>';
-            $this->_elements[] = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('static', 'gradesexistmsg', '', $gradesexisthtml);
+            $this->_elements[] = $this->createFormElement('static', 'gradesexistmsg', '', $gradesexisthtml);
         }
 
         // Grade type select box.
         $label = html_writer::tag('label', $this->gradetypeformelement->getLabel(),
             array('for' => $this->gradetypeformelement->getAttribute('id')));
-        $this->_elements[] = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('static', 'gradetypelabel', '', '&nbsp;'.$label);
+        $this->_elements[] = $this->createFormElement('static', 'gradetypelabel', '', '&nbsp;'.$label);
         $this->_elements[] = $this->gradetypeformelement;
-        $this->_elements[] = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('static', 'gradetypespacer', '', '<br />');
+        $this->_elements[] = $this->createFormElement('static', 'gradetypespacer', '', '<br />');
 
         // Only show the grade scale select box when applicable.
         if (!$this->isupdate || !$this->hasgrades || $this->currentgradetype == 'scale') {
             $label = html_writer::tag('label', $this->scaleformelement->getLabel(),
                 array('for' => $this->scaleformelement->getAttribute('id')));
-            $this->_elements[] = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('static', 'scalelabel', '', $label);
+            $this->_elements[] = $this->createFormElement('static', 'scalelabel', '', $label);
             $this->_elements[] = $this->scaleformelement;
-            $this->_elements[] = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('static', 'scalespacer', '', '<br />');
+            $this->_elements[] = $this->createFormElement('static', 'scalespacer', '', '<br />');
         }
 
         if ($this->isupdate && $this->hasgrades && $this->canrescale && $this->currentgradetype == 'point') {
@@ -228,18 +228,18 @@ class MoodleQuickForm_modgrade extends MoodleQuickForm_group {
             $label = html_writer::tag('label', $rescalegradesselect->getLabel(),
                 array('for' => $rescalegradesselect->getAttribute('id')));
             $labelhelp = new help_icon('modgraderescalegrades', 'grades');
-            $this->_elements[] = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('static', 'scalelabel', '', $label . $OUTPUT->render($labelhelp));
+            $this->_elements[] = $this->createFormElement('static', 'scalelabel', '', $label . $OUTPUT->render($labelhelp));
             $this->_elements[] = $rescalegradesselect;
-            $this->_elements[] = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('static', 'scalespacer', '', '<br />');
+            $this->_elements[] = $this->createFormElement('static', 'scalespacer', '', '<br />');
         }
 
         // Only show the max points form element when applicable.
         if (!$this->isupdate || !$this->hasgrades || $this->currentgradetype == 'point') {
             $label = html_writer::tag('label', $this->maxgradeformelement->getLabel(),
                 array('for' => $this->maxgradeformelement->getAttribute('id')));
-            $this->_elements[] = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('static', 'pointlabel', '', $label);
+            $this->_elements[] = $this->createFormElement('static', 'pointlabel', '', $label);
             $this->_elements[] = $this->maxgradeformelement;
-            $this->_elements[] = @MoodleQuickForm::createElement('static', 'pointspacer', '', '<br />');
+            $this->_elements[] = $this->createFormElement('static', 'pointspacer', '', '<br />');
         }
     }
 
@@ -340,6 +340,7 @@ class MoodleQuickForm_modgrade extends MoodleQuickForm_group {
      * @return mixed
      */
     public function onQuickFormEvent($event, $arg, &$caller) {
+        $this->setMoodleForm($caller);
         switch ($event) {
             case 'createElement':
                 // The first argument is the name.
diff --git a/lib/pear/HTML/QuickForm.php b/lib/pear/HTML/QuickForm.php
index c53ab751181..711e956f9f7 100644
--- a/lib/pear/HTML/QuickForm.php
+++ b/lib/pear/HTML/QuickForm.php
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ class HTML_QuickForm extends HTML_Common {
     function &createElement($elementType)
     {
         $args    =  func_get_args();
-        $element =& HTML_QuickForm::_loadElement('createElement', $elementType, array_slice($args, 1));
+        $element = self::_loadElement('createElement', $elementType, array_slice($args, 1));
         return $element;
     } // end func createElement
 
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ class HTML_QuickForm extends HTML_Common {
     function &_loadElement($event, $type, $args)
     {
         $type = strtolower($type);
-        if (!HTML_QuickForm::isTypeRegistered($type)) {
+        if (!self::isTypeRegistered($type)) {
             $error = self::raiseError(null, QUICKFORM_UNREGISTERED_ELEMENT, null, E_USER_WARNING, "Element '$type' does not exist in HTML_QuickForm::_loadElement()", 'HTML_QuickForm_Error', true);
             return $error;
         }
diff --git a/lib/pear/README_MOODLE.txt b/lib/pear/README_MOODLE.txt
index 0737feb05a0..ec62936d8fd 100644
--- a/lib/pear/README_MOODLE.txt
+++ b/lib/pear/README_MOODLE.txt
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ MDL-52081 - made all constructors PHP7 compatible
 MDL-52826 - Remove onsubmit events pointing to the global validation functions and script
             tag moved after the HTML
 MDL-50484 - _getPersistantData() returns id with _persistant prefixed to element id.
+MDL-55123 - corrected call to non-static functions in HTML_QuickForm to be PHP7.1-compliant
 
 
 Pear
diff --git a/lib/upgrade.txt b/lib/upgrade.txt
index ab401a56008..37cfcae0295 100644
--- a/lib/upgrade.txt
+++ b/lib/upgrade.txt
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ information provided here is intended especially for developers.
   - 3. Run: Which process behat should be initialise for.
 * behat_context_helper::set_session() has been deprecated, please use behat_context_helper::set_environment() instead.
 * data-fieldtype="type" attribute has been added to form field default template.
+* form elements extending MoodleQuickForm_group must call $this->createFormElement() instead of
+  @MoodleQuickForm::createElement() in order to be compatible with PHP 7.1
 
 === 3.1 ===