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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to talk to her about this work-related issue?

33 replies

Joolsy · 17/04/2015 10:13

As part of my team's job, we invigilate exams for individual students who need to be in a separate room. Mainly just to keep an eye on the student, sort out any minor problems, be there for toilet breaks etc. They can be up to about 3 hours long. In previous years we've been allowed to take a book to read into the room. Our new boss however is putting a stop to that. The team have weekly meetings, which I'm unable to attend due to school pickup, but I hear about it from the team members the next day, and at the last meeting she apparently came down very heavy hard on the team when a few people said could she reconsider this as up to 3 hours with nothing to do except sit there can be very hard. She has not spoken to me about it, I've only seen the minutes of the meeting but AIBU to speak to her myself about the fact I feel it's unreasonable? Or speak to HR? The guidelines are that books should not be allowed but we've always been allowed to read in the past. I feel I may go insane just sitting there staring into space.

OP posts:
WeirdCatLady · 17/04/2015 10:17

Sorry but YABU if the guidelines say no books. The fact that this has been ignored in the past is irrelevant. You have my sympathies as it does sound very boring indeed but you are being paid to fulfil a role, not being paid to read a book.

Maybe83 · 17/04/2015 10:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

londonrach · 17/04/2015 10:23

Yabu. You paid to supervise not to read a book.

ilovesooty · 17/04/2015 10:30

If the guidelines say no books that's what has to happen. You are meant to be watchful - the clue is in the name, isn't it?

SAHD63 · 17/04/2015 10:34

Sorry, another one saying YABU. I have helped as an invigilator and the instructions are clear - no activity other than the supervision of candidates.

GlitzAndGigglesx · 17/04/2015 10:35

How can you keep an eye on students if you're looking down on a book? A few hours a day really isn't a lot.

DesperatelySeekingSanity · 17/04/2015 10:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ilovesooty · 17/04/2015 10:52

You don't have to stare at the student all the time but you are meant to be vigilant. Reading a book is expressly vetoed in the guidelines.

littlesupersparks · 17/04/2015 10:55

That is the job of an invigilator - of course there should be no books!!! I'm amazed it was ever allowed!

Original poster
Joolsy · 17/04/2015 10:57

Desperately - we don't sit close to them so we can't see what they're writing.

To the other replies - the student is silently working and have nothing else on the desk apart from their exam paper & pen/calculator & whatever is needed for the exam. So they don't need to be watched all the time. If they were to start fumbling in their bag etc then we would step in or if they needed something, in which case they would ask us. I can understand no books etc allowed in a room full of students as you need to be looking round the room all the time, but 1 student in a small room?

OP posts:
AuntyMag10 · 17/04/2015 11:00

Yabu, what would be the point of you being there if your focus is being distracted by a book. It's the guidelines, unless you intend trying to get that changed.

ilovesooty · 17/04/2015 11:50

So you think you know better than the exam guidelines?

riverboat1 · 17/04/2015 11:54

Could you do something other than read? Are you allowed a paper and pencil?

redexpat · 17/04/2015 11:57

Pack of cards?

InfinitySeven · 17/04/2015 11:57

The students need to sit the exams under the same conditions, with the exception of the conditions that have been expressly changed - so in this case, they are in a separate room and alone, and they may have extra time. The quality of the invigilators should not be different, though, nor should the amount to which the exam guidelines are adhered.

Your old manager was wrong. It isn't easy to sit and do nothing for three hours, but it is what you are being paid for. It may be that the pay is no longer worth the effort if you can't read, but you should never have been able to in the first place, so you've had a good run.

PsychopathOnTheCyclepath · 17/04/2015 12:00

I sat several HE exams recently. All the invigilators were reading/doing something on their desk. They also did the occasional walk up and down - and this was in a large room of desks/students.

I think YANBU on that basis that clearly these guidelines are clearly not universal if my recent experiences are anything to go by.

PenguinTuxedo · 17/04/2015 12:14

Totally understad where you're coming from as I have to do this in my job.

During exam time, for all exams (not just GCSE's) we have to sit with the students, so we are usually in there for 5/6 hours a day. We used to be able to read books, but we can't anymore due to the guidelines (despite the invigulators read books). It's so tiring being in a room with no windows or air con, and nothing to do but stare into space all day. We all feel quite ill when we come out of the room afterwoods, but it is just part of our job. YANBU to be annoyed by it, but YABU to think it can be changed, because your boss has to follow the guidelines.

BalloonSlayer · 17/04/2015 12:20

The exam board specifies no books. You must be vigilant at all times (clue in the title "invigilator.")

There has been a recent crackdown on this, hence your having been allowed to read before.

I feel your pain. It's as boring as anything. Yet on the other hand you are being paid for doing nothing.

If you are caught reading not only will the person you are invigilating for possibly be disqualified, but also everyone else for whom you have invigilated during that set of exams.

It's serious stuff I'm afraid.

shewept · 17/04/2015 12:24

Yes its boring, but its your job, if its that boring you can't face it. You need to find another job. Ywbu to challenge her on this since the guidelines back her up for very good reason.

Just because you have been allowed to ignore the rules, doesn't mean that she has to accept you breaking the guidelines.

WeShouldOpenABar · 17/04/2015 12:44

could you get a book on tape and listen with one ear bud so you can still hear disturbances?

Brandysnapper · 17/04/2015 12:48

Watching one student in a room is very different to invigilating an exam hall full of students.

littlesupersparks · 17/04/2015 12:51

It is different, yes, but if you are being paid to invigilate, that's what you are being paid to do! I'm seriously shocked that it was ever ok to read a book!!! It's against the guidelines, it's a no go - the child and possibly even the whole centre could be disqualified!

BoredAdminGirl · 17/04/2015 12:55

they don't need to be watched all the time there you have it. The Schools don't need you then? Go and sign on and read as many books as you want.

YABVVVVVU

Original poster
Joolsy · 17/04/2015 13:03

Thank you Brandysnapper, I agree

OP posts:
IHeartKingThistle · 17/04/2015 13:04

The rule is there for a reason.

I am a GCSE examiner and expressly forbidden from marking papers anywhere other than my house. I go absolutely stir-crazy doing this, especially at weekends when DH and the DC are there. But it's the rule and it's there for a reason.