Hi
An extract from the EOA website Blog
"When I first became an Exams Officer in the year x!**?@x I remember
that many centres had examination functions devolved to
departments/faculties, call them what you will. Over time it was
realised that this was not an efficient use of resources both in terms
of cost and use of staff time. This was also at a time when the
administration of assessments etc. was comparatively straightforward. A
few enlightened Senior Management teams took the plunge and created
Exams Offices, and the rest followed on.
We are now in a more complex situation with awarding organisations
having built many of their procedures around the Exams Officer; access
arrangements have taken on an “industry” proportion; the JCQ rules
and regulations are dependent on the role of the Exams Officer for their
implementation; security of assessment materials is a prime concern of
awarding organisations and exams staff; and importantly we, as Exams
Officers, are mindful of costs and the need for timely administration
and careful planning in the interests of our students.
We have heard in the last few days of a centre proposing a return to
the old days and the devolvement of exam functions to departments etc.,
with the prospect of a loss of experienced exams staff and the
reintroduction of all the old problems. Who will take responsibility for
applying for access arrangements; who will ensure that entries are
submitted in time thereby keeping fees under control; who will be
responsible for ensuring that all the relevant information disseminated
by awarding organisations and supervisory bodies gets to the correct
departments; who will be responsible for the security of assessment
materials and how will they be disseminated; and who will co-ordinate
the employment and use of invigilators or will the faculties just fight
each other for them?
The list of potential pitfalls is endless and they are all problems
which were experienced in the past and led to the creation of exams
offices. Can administrative offices in faculties absorb the often
complex and time consuming exams work whilst carrying out their other
functions? I suspect not as priorities will not be the same as in exams
offices and the quality of provision will fall."
Best of luck for nest week
Alan Waymont
Dr Alan Waymont
Examinations Manager
Peter Symonds College,
Owens Road,
Winchester, SO22 6RX
Tel: 01962-857500
Fax: 01962-857501
>>> Stephen Collinson <[log in to unmask]> 10/04/2013 16:19
>>>
More ammo....who will train, co-ordinate, manage and organise
invigilators? Who will identify and deal with malpractice, access
arrangements request, special considerations, results days?
Still thinking Mike, I'll let you know if I can come up with more for
next Thursday.
Regards
Stephen
P Please consider the environment and don't print this email unless you
really need to.
Stephen Collinson - Examinations Officer
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From: The FE Exams Network mailing list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Michelle
Lockett
Sent: 10 April 2013 16:15
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Exams department made redundant
Importance: High
Glad to see your still here Mike and having given this more thought
since my previous e-mail to you and having spoken to different EO's
since doing this job who have gone through merges etc. I would add the
following comments which may come in handy next Thursday
1. The length of time required to devolve work to departments and
who would be training them?
2. Awarding Bodies normally require a super user/ centre
administrator (the EO) I think they would have issues in a centre
requiring numerous super users, also who would be left with the JCQ
Inspector ?
3. All the curriculum departments would have to learn the diverse
systems of each Awarding Body which is hard enough for centralised
specialist Exams staff. Also the numerous accounts, super users,
etc. would mean an administrative nightmare
4. Which department would take responsibility for exam script
dispatch and the DfE yellow label key contact along with certificate
delivery
5. Success Rates could seriously be affected since collation of
achievements and cashin codes etc. is done by exam specialist staff
6. Oversights of entries and claims as curriculum staff do not
know the system of awarding bodies etc..
7. Risks to confidential data, course work etc. as no central
point to lead it.
8. Has each curriculum area got a secure exam storage room to JCQ
standards
9. How will JCQ or other inspectors check all processes? Who will
collate procedures and work instructions?
The amount of conferences and training put on by awarding bodies for
exams staff shows what a vital role we play within a centre and as such
allow smooth running of qualifications in the most cost effective way.
Perhaps it may be worth mentioning to a couple of your AB's for their
input.
Lets hope they come to their senses before it is too late.
Best of luck Mike
Michelle
Michelle Lockett
Administrative Officer MIS/ Exams
Room G21
01606 720581
-----Original Message-----
From: The FE Exams Network mailing list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ben Nicholl
Sent: 10 April 2013 15:36
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Exams department made redundant
Good to see not decided yet, motivation must be hard to find for
everyone - impressed you're still smiling.
Hopefully management will come to senses, can't see anyone thinking
it's a good idea.
-----Original Message-----
From: The FE Exams Network mailing list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mike Swann
Sent: 10 April 2013 15:30
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Exams department made redundant
Hi Ben yes I am still here. Finding it hard to be motivated whilst
awaiting my fate, I should know more next Thursday.
Keep smiling, I am :)
Thanks
Mike
Mike Swann
Examinations Manager
Direct Dial: 01480 379117
Please remind students that NO Mobile Phones, iPods,MP3/4 players, or
any device with electronic storage are to be taken into examination
rooms, and that Photo ID has to be shown for all examinations prior to
entry to the room.
-----Original Message-----
From: The FE Exams Network mailing list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ben Nicholl
Sent: 10 April 2013 15:27
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Exams department made redundant
Mike are you still there?
Just heard rumour that Huntingdonshire have indeed gone ahead and made
the exams office and its staff redundant. Teaching teams now
responsible for all exam functions.
Morbid curiosity about the ensuing train wreck.
Ben
-----Original Message-----
From: The FE Exams Network mailing list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Fi Taylor
Sent: 03 April 2013 14:03
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Exams department made redundant
Speechless...
Regards
Fi
Fi Taylor
Cross College Examinations Manager
Sussex Downs College
Mountfield Road
Lewes
BN7 2XH
Telephone: 030 300 38357
Mobile: 07932028097
Email: [log in to unmask]
? please consider the Environment - do you really need to print this E
mail?
-----Original Message-----
From: The FE Exams Network mailing list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jon Brown
Sent: 03 April 2013 08:14
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Exams department made redundant
Hi Mike,
Your news is very concerning indeed. For you and your team it must be
devastating, for the College a major set back and a sign of significant
problems to come and for the rest of us a warning about the world in
which we now live. Most of those that have responded to you are long
serving Exams Officers who know the detail of the work and the
responsibilities that it brings. I'm from an MIS background (actually
Business in the private sector), however I have responsibility for Exams
in the College and I know that the complexity, knowledge and work
involved in running a successful exams department sits at the top of the
list when comparing skills and work pressures across the College. I am
also acutely aware of the risks involved in getting it wrong in any way.
The penalties in terms of loss of reputation, accreditation, money and
student satisfaction are massive, but allied to that is the impact on
the curriculum staff. Most Colleges are trying to remove additional
burden from teachers and to free them up to focus on what they are best
at which should be teaching. My experience is that they are not good
administrators at all and certainly don't begin to understand the
complexities of the exams and accreditation systems.
No doubt the College management Team has good reasons for this move,
however, I also agree that it is often the case that they have little
understanding of what actually is needed in exams. Perhaps as a group,
exams staff have become too isolated from the main College and as a
result taken for granted. I think your way forward will be to find
opportunities to explain clearly and coherently the actual work and
responsibilities that the team has. If this can be done to the Governors
and SMT then this will have the greatest impact. I suspect that you need
to create a dialogue where both sides can begin to understand the other
rather than being too confrontational. In the end it is important that
the correct decision is made for the College - one that works and works
well for students and staff alike.
I hope and trust that you are able to accomplish this and wish you
every success. It is heartening to read of the support from the sector
as a whole.
Jon
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