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Original poster

Has anyone been an exam invigilator? Should I be one?

34 replies

Fauve · 20/02/2006 20:23

Ds' secondary school is asking Year 7 parents to offer themselves as invigilators for public exams - GCSEs etc. £7 an hour, hours to suit.
I'm kind of tempted, so that I can have a squint at his new school from within, as it were. OTOH - like many people - I still have exam dreams where I'm about to sit an exam for which I've done NO work, and wake up sweating. So would I be walking into my own worst nightmare?

OP posts:
DumbledoresGirl · 20/02/2006 20:26

Oh I would do it definitely. Easy money IMO!

I have invigilated exams as part of my old job as a teacher (not public exams though, well SATs) and I loved doing it. Peace and quiet! Wonderful!

Hulababy · 20/02/2006 20:27

Seems a good pay rate for a reasonable easy job. there will be at least one qualified teacher in the room too, to deal with any incidents. Your main jobis to hand out papers, answer simple questions, escort to outside a toilet, etc. Can be very boring though as you are not allowed to do anything else (read, etc.) when invigialting - so an hour and a half or even up to 3 hours can be a long time.

Original poster
Fauve · 20/02/2006 20:27

What if the pupils cry and panic, though? Do I just look stern and unsympathetic?

OP posts:
RTKangaMummy · 20/02/2006 20:28

Deffo go for it

Don't wear high heeled or squeaky shoes though

Hulababy · 20/02/2006 20:28

A teacher would deal with that rather than you. Also you have a walkie talkie type thing too to contact a more senior member of staff or the exam officer in case of problems.

Original poster
Fauve · 20/02/2006 20:28

Hmm, hadn't thought about boredom - only the trauma

OP posts:
fob · 20/02/2006 20:29

do it! easy money! and you'll see the bairns on their best behaviour!

RTKangaMummy · 20/02/2006 20:30

DH thinks they are boring too but now they have employed retired teachers to do quite alot of it so he doesn't have as many to do

kiskidee · 20/02/2006 20:31

good money but v. boring. I'd do it though! it's a no-brainer.

Original poster
Fauve · 20/02/2006 20:32

Yes, I agree that it doesn't seem a good use of a teacher's time, to do more than supervise the invigilating team... and help out when they panic...

Seriously, I am quite tempted, and there is an introductory meeting for parents considering it. And they are more or less begging for volunteers.

OP posts:
DumbledoresGirl · 20/02/2006 20:33

Boring? Peace and quiet for 3 hours? My idea of bliss.

And being on the other side of the fence so to speak might exorcise some of your demons.

Original poster
Fauve · 20/02/2006 20:34

Well, that had occurred to me, actually, DG.

OP posts:
RTKangaMummy · 20/02/2006 20:35

Deffo go for it

you could always think about what you will buy with all the extra money

Original poster
Fauve · 20/02/2006 20:36

Good idea, RTKM

OP posts:
mummytosteven · 20/02/2006 21:37

I have done a bit of invigilating. Easy job but absolutely dull as ditchwater, as Hula says.

cod · 20/02/2006 21:37

Message withdrawn

cupcakes · 20/02/2006 21:39

My mum used to do it at the local college. Easiest thing ever.
She used to sit there with a book. (Makes you wonder how easy it must have been for the students to cheat, knowing how engrossed she'd get).

cod · 20/02/2006 21:40

Message withdrawn

Hulababy · 20/02/2006 21:40

I did wonder whether it might not be so bad doing it if you are being paid for that job, so was focused on just that for an hour or two at a time. Part of my issue with it is that I knew that I had so much work that I would be better doing at the top - marking, prep, etc - and that I had to go and teach my next lesson 60 minutes later, and I could guarantee the person taking over from me would be late, meaning I'd be late and so on. However, when pg I quite enjoyed it as was able to sit down with my feet up on the stage and just look and do nothing!

Hulababy · 20/02/2006 21:40

Oh yes Cod - the games

cod · 20/02/2006 21:41

Message withdrawn

cod · 20/02/2006 21:42

Message withdrawn

Tommy · 20/02/2006 21:48

I remember using the time looking at a male colleague who I'd been a bit flirtacious with, and wondering what he'd be like in bed - I certainly did not have my mind on the students but it made for an interesting hour....
(he didn't realise I was staring at him BTW - he was a bit more keen and used to walk around offering paper and stuff )

A very very dull job but easy money I would say!

cupcakes · 20/02/2006 21:51

no books? Must be why she stopped doing it.

Tommy · 20/02/2006 21:54

no books or anything! I can remember quite an outcry at our school as one teacher used to take her knitting in...