AIBU to hate my job today?

[SadieContrary]

I'm an Exams Officer and my new cohort of Year 11's are appalling.

Having mocks this wk and I've caught them talking, in possession of a mobile phone, turning up with no pen (how were they planning to complete the exam?!), arriving late.

It was clearly instructed to all students and parents that these mocks would be carried out in strict exam conditions to help prepare them for the real thing.

They just don't seem to care. So utterly defiant. I just needed to rant.

How well supported are you?
As a parent I would like to see you imposing real consequences - so caught talking = being chucked out and maybe excluded from rest of exams. Followed by parent meetings explaining the reasons.

Bekabeech if all my parents thought like you then my job would be a breeze!

I'm very well supported to be fair, we have an excellent SLT at the school.

The student with the phone and the one talking will still have their paper marked so we can internally track progress but they've been informed they'll receive a fail mark and they were just like 'so what?'

Parents were informed by email and neither set acknowledged it. Passed it onto HoY now.

Soursprout really does show you just how addicted some people are to their phones. When I removed the phone from the student earlier she almost went into meltdown.

We don't allow our students to leave before the end otherwise the low achievers won't even make a proper attempt at trying to answer and would leave after 5mins.

It's shocking, but I also agree you (as a school) need to come down hard. If a phone rings in an exam it must be so disrupting to everyone else.
I also agree with not letting people leave early to remove disruption and ensure everyone tries. (Plus how awful would it be to leave and then realise you did know more after all.)

Also, I know this is cheeky but do you know the answer to my question in the thread below (which I bumped before seeing this one)www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3206029-Can-you-get-extra-time-for-practical-exams

How long have you been an EO? I am also one, at work now, bored waiting for my basedata on Monday.

My main problem is cocky boys (and the occasional girl).

You need an approach agreed with SLT re phones etc.

Teen not cheeky in the slightest. I've answered on your thread.

Action I was fully supported by SLT and we have an Exams policy that is adhered to us (by us, not always the students and parents though ). This is my 3rd season. So not a veteran in this game by any means.
This cohort just don't seem to give a damn, however, two lovely students obviously clocked that I was ready to lose my shit today and came up after their exam and thanked me for all that I do for them. Bless.

Glad they realised! Are you in a big school? I never have more than 90 in the main exam room and 25 in access, so not hard to deal with troublemakers

3200 pupils in total. 200 year 11's, 70year 12's. Not to mention my 40 year 10 early sitters - it'll only increase year on year. No wonder I'm partial to a wine!

SadieContrary I am sure you are doing a fab job. It is always going to be a difficult one. Our Exams Officer is amazing - she is sooooooo scary. Teachers and kids equally scared

Woodlands thanks :)
I've come to the conclusion that my job is like being pregnant and exams time is like giving birth, you think the torture might never end- then results day is so lovely (mostly!) and it's like cuddling your delicious baby. So you vow to do it all again and forget the bad bits.
I actually do like my job and care deeply that the students get the best conditions to do their best but it's bloomin frustrating sometimes.
True story, I have one eyebrow higher than the other and when mentioning it in passing to a doc acquaintance she said one muscle there was stronger than the other side of my head - asked me if I raised my eyebrow often. Hahahah yup! Sometimes the 'look' is very effective at silencing some rowdy students