From: The FE Exams Network mailing list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jayne Harris
Sent: 19 June 2018 16:06
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: This horrible awful exam series!!!!

Thank you all so much for replying and making us feel less like we're going mad!

In answer to Claire, yes we've had loads of clashes Over-lunchers most days with hardly anywhere to put them, especially when our usual little rooms are being used by students with access arrangements for morning exams that don't finish until the PM exams start due to extra time.

We run two lots of formal mocks each year to prepare the students but it hasn't seemed to help this time round.

I don't know if it's because both students and parents are much more aware of the support (access arrangements) and possible help (special consideration) available, but they are definitely keen to push for any little thing that might help their grade - and I have to say that teachers are no different in that regard.

Just like all of you, there have been all the early starts, 12 hour days, packs of crisps passing as a lunch at 3pm and much swearing. We've clocked up loads of lieu time that we'll probably never get back, but it's ok because we can colour up exam papers in every shade of unicorn poo!!

I agree with those of you that mention the issue early opening of exam papers. It's a nightmare. Coloured exam papers are our most hated arrangement. Every time the coloured papers are delivered to the exam room a student who doesn't have a coloured paper decides that they want their paper on a colour because they've suddenly decided it's necessary. Every. Single. Time. You can imagine our response.

And don't even get me started on how out of touch with the reality of the work the JCQ are. They haven't got a clue. The inspector we had this year didn't look at our key safe, she looked at only 3 of our policies but only looked at a single point on a single page of each. She reminded me of Columbo in her slightly bumbling, ditsy, 'oh and just one last thing' routine as she was absolutely desperate to find us doing something wrong, and she insisted on entering a small exam room that had one anxious student working 1-2-1 with a reader because she wanted "to just be certain" that the students finish time was visible to the student on her desk. It was, just as I had explained to her. Student gave up on the exam about 20 minutes later.

For the first time I actually feel some sympathy for the exam boards as they are going to be receiving more special consideration requests than ever before!!

For those of you that mentioned having a drink when I get home, unfortunately (and perhaps foolishly!) I don't drink, but I do keep a well stocked drawer of chocolate bars at work . Needless to say I'm having to re-stock regularly at the moment!!

Thanks again

Katie.

On 18 June 2018 at 11:11, Katie Hill <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Hi everyone

 

I'm wondering how you have found this exam series?

 

Between myself and my colleagues in my office we have a ridiculous number of years experience but we have truly found this year to be the most horrendous to date!

 

I think there are numerous reasons for this ranging from (but not limited to)....

• longer papers with ever increasing numbers of students with extra time including 50%
• we have high numbers of students with complex access arrangements - as I expect most colleges do
• shortage of appropriate rooming
• students feeling increasingly 'entitled' and also likely to complain (we've had a student who was typing complain that they were distracted by the noise of another student typing!!!!!)

Obviously these are issues that we all face each year, but for some reason this year it's gone mad. There seems to have been a real shift this year in the complexity and intensity. We've also noticed a change in attitude from the students (and subsequently the parents). They seem very keen to question/complain about every little thing - which obviously they should if something is wrong - but complaining because someone over the other side of the hall blew their nose or because a student left the room at the end of their exam (it distracted them apparently!) is driving us mad - and don't even get me started on the requests to be seated separately due to anxiety!

 

I'd be keen to hear your experiences of this series, if nothing else it would be nice to know that we aren't alone in thinking that this year has been awful. 

 

Kind regards

Katie.

 

 

Katie Hill

Examinations & Assessments Manager

Portsmouth College

Tel: 023 92667521 ext 307