Results day replaced by an app, invigilators replaced by cameras

[noblegiraffe]

Two news stories caught my eye recently.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2e2z1y1pko

Instead of going into schools to collect results from teachers, students will be able to check their results on an app at home in order to reduce the admin burden on schools.

And

https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/use-ai-cameras-for-digital-invigilation-gcse-a-level-exams-says-aqa-chief

Invigilators should be replaced by cameras monitored by AI to spot signs of cheating.

Both of these seem to miss the point.

1. Results day in schools isn't simply about handing out results. It's about offering support to students who didn't get the results they hoped for/need and about celebrating with students who did.

2. Human invigilators aren't just there to monitor for signs of cheating. Apart from the admin side of handing out and collecting in papers and equipment, organising entry and exit, they also deal with behavioural issues (a camera might spot a kid talking but it won't tell them to stop), handle pupils who are distressed/become ill, or simply accompany them to the toilet.

Depressing that the human interaction side is deemed so unimportant.

I'm a lead invigilator - exam papers have to be kept secure at all times. How would you do that if you're delivering 50 papers to 5 rooms (as suggested in the article) and there's no human being in the rooms?

As well as that side of things where it is extremely useful to have the kids there for exam appeal admin, and useful for the kids who have a mare and need some support, it's also a really nice morning that lots of staff go in for just to see the students (who they may never see again) and share in their joy.

His exam board is trying to move to online exams (which isn't going well) so he's probably thinking there won't be any papers. However then you need humans to deal with the inevitable login problems and laptop out of battery issues.

Our school has staff in on results day and kids can contact or go into school. No big deal. I don’t know why England always has to make a big deal of stuff that we’ve been doing in Scotland for years without issue.

I had mine delivered and this was about 30 years ago. An app is a lot better

Ridiculous. Invigilator here also and this week we have had to deal with a girl having a screaming meltdown because her Trelson was not working so we needed to pause the exam, call IT and keep her in isolation until it could be up and running and she could restart and a medical episode where someone had an epileptic fit and an ambulance had to be called.

Plus (going by another thread) how would a camera identify which students are using the wrong sort of pen or which student has forgotten to bring their ruler in or which student has accidentally not been given tracing paper or ... or ... or....

Pupils in Scotland have never had to go into school to collect their results. Back in the day they were sent to your home and now I believe you can get them by text/email.

I think there will always be a need for human invigilators.

Or rather, Scotland doesn't know what it's missing.

Nah, English system sounds awful to me.

I got my exam results through the post back in the day (Scotland). Not a big deal. My degree results went up on a notice board which was pretty awful for people who were disappointed. I wonder if it is slightly different in Scotland because most people go back to the same school after their results (Highers, on which university entrance depends are done in the penultimate year of school). Results come a week or so before school restarts so there is no problem dealing with appeals. Advanced Highers, taken in the last year are less critical for most people.

(I’ve just realised that these exams may have changed name, but the principle is the same)

I welcome a Results App.

I never bothered collecting my O level results as I wasn’t ever planning to set foot in that ghastly place ever again! I know my son hates his school too and has no real friends there.

Before you lot start frothing, I did evening classes and have postgraduate qualifications now and my son is also extremely able academically, but many schools are poorly equipped to support ND students adequately.

Pupils have had electronic results days for YEARS

It's by invitation in my town, those with the shiniest results and futures ahead

Results already come out digitally.

my DD got her gcse results by email because she was on a singing course and that was 8 years ago in England.

the schools usually open anyway for kids to go in person if they want to and to discuss appeals and sixth form applications.

Am in Scotland. Results are posted here, and certainly were that way when I was at school too. We now have text functions too. Teachers etc still in school on results day should support be required.

i would have hated opening my results in front of other students. It's far better to deal with the emotions away from peers.

I much prefer our (Scottish) system for results day.

ive just finished professional exams for my job. And no one knew (unless my bosses specifically asked) when my results day was. They knew roughly but not the exact day as I wanted time to process the results. And that's even more true for teenagers. Dealing with disappointing results shouldn't be done in front of your peers.

Why do people think going into school to collect your results means that you are forced to open them in front of people? Some kids just grab and run and open them in the car.

Agree OP.

And then come back in when they don't understand the results slip or they messed something up and need help or....

because undoubtedly that will happen. Kids will be desperate to see them. And others will ask them.

seems like a ridiculous system, and of course text/email/app will be offered alongside having to collect them.

im very glad it just wasn't and isn't a thing here.

I think this highlights why it's not a thing in Scotland - if you have to take a boat or hour long bus ride to school, this is a bit of a faff!

People who haven’t been to one telling people who have how dreadful it all is.

I’m sure that’s why staff go in voluntarily during their holidays just to be there.

I routinely plan my holidays so I can be at results day. This year I have A level students who I've taught for 4 years - if I can be there, I will.

I've commented how much I wouldn't have liked it. And it does sound awful. That's absolutely my idea of hell.

what do you think the kids would prefer? Is there a reason why you think giving the students the option of text/app is a bad idea?

staff available in our school for assistance/apoeals/next steps etc on results day, and I think the day after. Just means the only students there are the ones who want to speak to the staff.

Giving the option of an app is not a bad idea. But in my experience of more than two decades of teaching, the kids who might choose not to come in if they could get results at home are the ones who need to come in for support.