What do they do?
They ensure that examinations in schools run smoothly. Examinations officers oversee and administer the whole exam process, including sorting out timetable clashes; making sure special requirements are met; and liaising with external examining bodies.
Will I enjoy it?
Exam time is a nerve-racking experience for most children and you will play a crucial part in making sure that they have all the support and information they need. “Helping the candidates to achieve their very best, is paramount,” says Joan Pennington, an examinations officer for Verdin High School in Cheshire. “We’re a small part of the exams process, but if that part is done well it can really make a difference.”
What skills are required?
You need excellent communication and time-management skills, the ability to work under pressure and be highly organised. “There’s no margin for error with exams so you have to have really good systems in place,” Pennington says, “but I’m a systems nerd.”
So how do I become one?
In the past the role was often performed by teachers, but schools now have full-time positions. Examinations officers tend to have a background in administration and have often had experience working in schools. Much of the training is on the job, provided by colleagues and supported by the National Assessment Agency (NAA) and the Examination Officers’ Association. To find employment you will have to apply to individual schools.
www.examofficers.org
www.naa.org.uk