Hi Mike

I agree with Michelle re below.

I really cannot see the justification for their actions in closing down the Exams Dept, it's utter suicide.

We have a hard enough job getting some teachers to teach and decide what level Functional Skills exams the students are supposed to be doing, let alone taking on responsibility for exams.

I cannot see curriculum staff processing entries/registrations, scheduling online tests, processing results, chasing up results, dealing with all the queries from students/parents/other colleges, schools and unis, sorting out invigilators, chasing up invigilators, stepping in to supervise exams when you’ve been let down, logging and despatching scripts, sorting seating plans, booking rooms, training staff on exams practice answering the hundreds of emails we all get each day and giving advice to teachers, managers, students, parents and the other million and 1 things we do on a daily basis.

Take it the teaching staff will be especially happy to have to work during all the holiday periods of an academic year the way support staff do!!!! NOT!

There will be no accountability to anyone, no control, the exams budget will probably be spent 10 times over instead of being controlled and monitored and then there will be no money left and the Executive will have their heads on the chopping block.

Jeez this country makes me sooooo mad at times.

Think my emigration to another planet may come sooner rather than later.

All the best

Kate

Kate Oliver
Examinations Manager
020 8326 2298

West Thames College
London Road
Isleworth
TW7 4HS

-----Original Message-----
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 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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