Does your child’s secondary school use security wand on pupils?

[WhosDrawnOnTheWallAgain]

Talking with my DD about how the GCSES are going, and I was really shocked to hear that the school uses a security want on the pupils as they enter the examination hall.

Apparently, it’s not a new thing and also for internal and external assessments for all year groups to make sure the students aren’t wearing watches, have phones or other devices. All feels quite extreme to me and I feel so out of touch.

Just wanted to ask if this is a general thing in secondary schools and how others feel about it?

For going into exams it sounds a fab idea.
There are always a few children who in the stress forget to hand in their phone or whatever. The school double checking sounds like a good plan.

I would be less keen ion the school f it was needed on all children every day checking for knives.

That's just standard now, they have strict rules re mobile phones etc when taking driving theory tests.

It’s a brilliant idea to stop cheating. We have one for finding vapes !

My son is doing his GCSE's at the moment and i think it's a great idea!

I've not come across this tbh but I've not worked in school for a few years. But I agree with others, really good idea if it will pick up a forgotten or deliberately concealed phone.

You do know @WhosDrawnOnTheWallAgain that if a GCSE student is found with a phone (which might be entirely due to forgetfulness rather than cheating) they can be and often are sanctioned by that exam not counting, that whole subject not counting or even being banned from sitting any GCSEs for the board. No one wants that for anyone.

Interesting to hear viewpoints on this. Not used for vapes or knives, as far as DD is aware.

Apparently each 5th pupil is asked to step out of line and stand legs akimbo and is wander (if that’s a word) - plus anyone spotted trying not to be a ‘5th’ person. I guess would take too long to send everyone.

I do understand the rationale but feels a little sad as necessary, and perhaps the thin end of the wedge.

I do know, yes, but as I mentioned, it’s used for internal and external exams and for all year groups - only on every 5th child.

m Suggests to me that is to address a cheating problem rather than a forgetfulness one.

.I invigilate in a big state school in Scotland. We've had 200 in an exam hall before. We don't do this. The teachers gather them before hand and give them the phone and watch chat. Then we give them the phone and watch chat. Then we read the SQA blurb about the phone and watch chat. And still we have to ask them just before they start to check their pockets. Only v occasional will someone have forgotten and usually the phone is off just not put away. It would be fairly obvious even in a massive exam if someone was looking at a phone or watch so I think the wand is overkill. If the invigilators or staff are doing their jobs properly.

If they’ve got a cheating problem then they’re clearly trying to address it

We wand everyone as they go into the exam hall. It's standard.

We also have a "knife arch" on a random day once a term (essentially anairport scanner). Picks up ALL kinds of things. Staff on the estate opposite to catch the diversions to stash stuff!