JISCMail - FE-EXAMS-NETWORK Archives

Hi Steve

We’ve had grumbles too but have just told them (tutors) tough, that’s how it is (or words to that effect) – we can’t magic up more rooms, invigilators and money to pay them!

Regards

Lorna

From: The FE Exams Network mailing list <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Steve Bustard
Sent: 20 June 2018 07:56
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: This horrible awful exam series!!!!

Hello Paul

Just to pick up on one point in your e-mail, I have had some grumbles from students about having 3 or 4 exams in the same exam room – they don’t realise that we have a limited amount of rooms available.

This is now being picked up by some tutors as an issue…

Has anyone else had complaints about having different exams taking place in the same room?

Thanks and regards

Steve Bustard

Exams Manager

Tel: 01604 734092

From: The FE Exams Network mailing list <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Paul King
Sent: 19 June 2018 17:30
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: This horrible awful exam series!!!!

Jayne, we’ve had a similar problem. One complaining mother on the phone to me followed by a written complaint. Then another candidate pops up and states she was also disturbed (although not claiming spec cons!). However, although the first one was at the front, and there is no argument that a ‘one question, one answer’ conversation took place between two invigilators, the second candidate was half way down the hall! It appears she was a friend of the first one…. We think the claim is vexatious, as the first candidate is a Cambridge applicant, and perhaps struggled with the paper.

This has gone to our VP to investigate, as we’ve had talking invigilator disturbances before although I’ve asked them since to be more discreet, etc. The VP has talked to nearly all the invigilators now, and is in the process of talking to other students in the exam session – there were three or four exams taking place. Needless to say, this has caused a lot of angst amongst our team, and although I will apply for spec cons as requested for the first candidate, I will await the outcome before I word the application, so that if the invigilators are exonerated there is no blame attached to them in the spec cons claim.

Regards

Paul King

Exams Officer

Leyton Sixth Form College

Tel: 020 8928 9135

Fax: 020 8928 9200

Email: [log in to unmask]

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!!!!

Lots of clashes here too, lots of spec con apps, lots of ‘anxiety’ and ‘I need a separate room!’ last minute requests – too many need to get a grip and live in the real world who need to realise they won’t be provided with everything they want when they start work in the big bad world.

Can I ask your opinions of what you would do if you had received a written complaint about 2 invigilators talking throughout the exam and disturbing the exam? As it is a formal written complaint from a parent, I can’t exactly say that her daughter is ‘exaggerating’ but not sure how to proceed with this. Mum wants me to apply for spec con!

Jayne

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jayne Harris
NCLT Trust Examinations Manager

T: 01977 802821
W: www.nclt.ac.uk
A: Park Lane, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF8 4QR

From: The FE Exams Network mailing list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Katie Hill
Sent: 18 June 2018 17:42
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.

Katie Hill

Examinations & Assessments Manager

Portsmouth College

Tel: 023 92667521 ext 307

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

To unsubscribe from the FE-EXAMS-NETWORK list, click the following link:
https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=FE-EXAMS-NETWORK&A=1

This email has been checked for viruses and spam by the New Collaborative Learning Trust Email Filters.

This message is confidential. You should not copy it or disclose its contents to anyone. You may use and apply the information only for the intended purpose. Internet communications are not secure and therefore New Collaborative Learning Trust, does not accept legal responsibility for the contents of this message. Any views or opinions presented are only those of the author and not those of New Collaborative Learning Trust. If this email has come to you in error please delete it and any attachments. Please note that New Collaborative Learning Trust may intercept incoming and outgoing e-mail communications. New Collaborative Learning Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales (company number: 09257194). Registered Address: New College Pontefract, Park Lane, Pontefract, WF8 4QR.

Checked by Sophos Mail Filter.

To unsubscribe from the FE-EXAMS-NETWORK list, click the following link:
https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=FE-EXAMS-NETWORK&A=1

Scanned by iCritical.

To unsubscribe from the FE-EXAMS-NETWORK list, click the following link:
https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=FE-EXAMS-NETWORK&A=1

Please consider the environment - Do you really need to print this email?

*************************************************************************************
Disclaimer:

The Information contained in this email or any attachment may be of a confidential nature which should not be disclosed to, copied or used by anyone other than the addressee. If you receive this email in error, please delete the email from your computer.

Virus Warning: Although this email and any attachment are believed to be free from viruses, it is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure that they are virus free. No responsibility is accepted by Northampton College for any loss or damage arising in any way from their receipt, opening or use.

Opinions expressed in this email or any attachment may not necessarily represent the views of Northampton College.

Website: https://www.northamptoncollege.ac.uk

*************************************************************************************

Northampton College (Established under the Further & Higher Education Act 1992)
Registered Office: Booth Lane, Northampton NN3 3RF, UK
VAT Registration No: 581 4704 36

To unsubscribe from the FE-EXAMS-NETWORK list, click the following link:
https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=FE-EXAMS-NETWORK&A=1