I'm a teacher and was asked to declare if my child is sitting A-levels this year - anyone else?

One thing I do remember that was a bit tricky was that my mum had access to my GCSE results several hours before they were released to students (In those days, the results slips were couried to the school very early on results day morning, had to be checked before being put into envelopes, and SLT helped with that as they were onsite for results day).

Mum did say I could come with her in the morning, and collect my results early (the only perk of being the deputy's daughter!), but I wanted to go with my friends and refused. We had an almighty row about it the night before results day.....

My mum was the exams officer at the school I sat my A Level exams at (admittedly that was about 15 years ago). She was never asked/didn't have to hand in her phone/keys/stop doing her job at any point during that period. Nor did she pass on any details of the exam papers to me (the envelopes they come in are sealed and aren't even opened until the morning of the exam) so this is a new and odd rule to me.

Our entire staff was asked via email about GCSEs. Those of us with children sitting them are unable to invigilate within one of the school buildings or at students' homes (EBSA provision).

Everyone has to sign a letter of declaration. You may mark papers?

That must be challenging at schools in small towns like where I went to school. Quite a few teachers had children around my age. Though it probably didn't matter back then, and maybe thry could arrange invigilation swaps or similar with schools in nearish towns.

By the exams officer (or presumably someone in exams team such as SLT link etc) at the school you work at.
Must keep a record as per JCQ regulations.

Page 11&12 of the JCQ regs explain why this happens:

www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Gen_regs_approved_centres_22-23_FINAL.pdf

But it's to be expected. Teachers generally have a passion for learning, which they pass on to their children by engaging with them, reading with them, taking them to museums, places of interest, cultural experiences, galleries, etc. Teachers are likely to encourage their children in self-directed educational experiences - making up stories, creative play, writing, etc, because they understand the value of these experiences on child development.

Teachers are also degree level (or higher) educated professionals, which is generally a predictor for good educational achievement by their children. Finally, the long holidays enable teacher parents to spend much more time with their children, supporting them in learning experiences that may not be available in a childcare setting.

Asked by who?

This, I’m a teacher and get asked this ever year.

This doesn’t surprise me at all.

I went to the Cambridge college that takes the highest percentage of state school
applicants. Teacher was by far the most common parental job.

I didn't think of it but really good point

One of my friends is a school exams officer and has to hand in her phone if her DC is doing an exam (so obviously they must have asked her!)

@WayneEyre I was just thinking it would apply the opposite way too, to make sure a child is not unfairly disadvantaged because of internal staff conflicts etc. I'm glad this is in place.

I don't know the ins and outs of teaching but there can be many reasons for conflicts of interest.

Overall, ensuring fairness and making sure there's no appearances of favouritism which may be based on nothing but avoids affecting the reputation of the school, teacher and the integrity of the pupil's work.

Just suggestions, I know it's not your school but maybe a teacher could be doing some extra marking or invigilating and their child's papers need to be triangulated with that school.

I don't know if teachers sometimes conceivably move between schools for exams?

Maybe so his coursework can be moderated to ensure it's his own work (although that's quite quaint these days asking whether Mum has helped what with AI, tutors and essay mills).

I sat my GCSE's almost 30 years ago, and my mum was in the SLT at my secondary school. She had to declare that, and all my work for every subject was sent for moderation. I went to a specialist FE provider for my A levels, and all my mum had to do then was declare I was no longer at her school. As far as I know, my A levels just got normal levels of scrutiny.

So I don't think this is a new thing.... But as a member of SLT, she was acting as senior invigilator and as an exams officer.

It must depend on the school, and not be a legal requirement. We are of course never allowed into the exam room that stores exam papers - all of that is dealt with by exam officers etc. But I have never been asked as a teacher to declare whether I have children doing exams and which school they are at. Only ever had to declare as an exam marker.

I used to teach and each year we were asked to declare this. It’s been around for years. Staff aren’t allowed into the exam paper storage cupboard regardless of any conflicts. In all of my previous secondary schools it was strictly the exams officer only. We weren’t allowed into the exam venues at all and couldn’t see a paper until all pupils had finished including those with extra time or who started late.

We were all asked this year, I can’t recall being asked before but that may be because my kids weren’t sitting exams so it was a simple no. I declared that my son was doing his GCSE this year. I work in his school but in an admin role and my knowledge of computer science is non existent!

Yes, same here. We are always asked. DD is at a different school doing A levels so I am not allowed in the Exams Office where papers are stored.

I have to declare it in advance as well. Exam papers are delivered in advance of the exam and they're in the same building as I am and they need to ensure that I have no way of accessing the exams office and sneaking a look.