Special Consideration in Exams: What It Really Means and Why It Matters More Than You Think Every summer, as the main exam season unfolds, there are thousands of unseen stories running alongside exam papers, mark schemes and grade boundaries. A student sitting quietly in an exam hall may be coping with bereavement. Another may be…
(For the purposes of the blog we use the words Exams Officer to cover all professionals involved in exams administration and management.) Why Exam Officer Training Is Not Optional Anymore by Sara Senior Business Development Manager For many years, the role of the exams officer has been something people “fall into.” A colleague leaves,…
From Paper to People: The Hidden Challenges of Exam Season We have just completed the first week of the main summer exam timetable. This is a milestone that comes with both relief and renewed focus for exams officers, invigilators, teachers and school leaders. This time of year, always brings a unique mix of adrenaline and…
Let’s Talk Exam Inspections: What Centres Need to Know (and How to Prepare with Confidence) Exam inspections. Two words that can instantly raise the pulse of even the most experienced exams professional. In our online community, we regularly see exam staff sharing their inspection experiences – what went well, what did not and the lessons…
Recruiting and retaining invigilators has become increasingly challenging for many centres – so how do you build and retain a robust invigilation team? With exam seasons growing in complexity and with access arrangements rising year‑on‑year, having a dependable invigilation team is more important than ever. So how can you build and retain…
“Which Access Arrangement is the hardest to organise in your centre?” We have spent the last few weeks running polls across our LinkedIn and our *online community*. So, what are access arrangements? Access Arrangements are pre-examination adjustments, based on the normal way of working and evidence of need. They allow candidates/learners with special education needs, disabilities, or temporary…
From No Induction to Global Impact: Why I Pioneered Exams Officer Training There is a system called SIMS and that is where my journey into the world of exams began. There did not seem to be any Exams Officer Training. Before stepping into education, I had built my career in the civil service and the…
In this episode of Educational Insights, Paula, founder and director of Exam Officers and Data Solutions, is joined by Dr Robert Sharples. Rob is the founder of Heddle EAL, working with schools and MATs to embed effective EAL provision. He is the author of Teaching EAL: Evidence-based strategies for classrooms and schools and holds an…
Today Company Director and Founder planted some trees and they are more than just part of the company sustainability goals. They represent something deeper: the power of the right environment, support and determination helps us all to thrive. In this blog post Paula talks about where she was in her life journey when she started in business, where the company is now and her personal message to us all…..
Under Joint Council for Qualifications regulations, the Head of Centre is the person ultimately accountable for ensuring the security, integrity and compliance of examinations and assessments.
This responsibility extends to senior leaders who oversee exams administration, access arrangements and centre compliance. Without proper management training for exams, centres are exposed to unnecessary risk particularly during peak points in the exam cycle.