Over time, there has been an increasing concern over the mass withdrawal of exam officers in schools. Secondary schools are being warned of higher workloads over the summer period due to more than three-fifths of exam officers potentially leaving their position according to a survey by the National Association of Exams officers.
Examiners have highlighted the issues they have consistently faced leading up to their decision such as the volume of work, issues with “rooming” (finding space for students to take their exams) and an increased pressure from parents who want their child’s stress and anxiety being accommodated to. It comes as no surprise that anxieties over the logistics of exams are heightened in a post-pandemic world.
Mr Potts, Headteacher at Blessed John Henry Newman RC College in Oldham, also stresses that there has been a move away from coursework with an increased focus on exams which is also putting more pressure on exam officers as the demand for them increases.
Examiners have additionally expressed their frustration over administrative issues such as constant changes to awarding bodies, systems crashing and late changes to admin support without being informed. Such issues have meant that school staff with no experience, have had to step into the role of examiner so that they can support the continuation of exams.
As a result of such complications, Tim Fisher, chair of the National Association of Examinations Officers has warned of possible financial penalties for schools where there is any malpractice or administrative errors.
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