Are there any exam officers here?

[coolpattern]

I’m one and was just pondering if I’ll stay on after this year. The AB’s have been awful this year and I’ve worked far too many unpaid hours for the kids sake. Do you think anything will change next year?

I don't think anything will change next year; I see more things going online like NEA submissions etc. I found those really hard this year, teachers seemed to think that since everything was uploaded they could give me work much later than usual.
I'm looking at moving on but partly due to the attitude of school as much as ABs. I have a very supportive line manager but I struggled with staff and rooms again this year and I'm fed up of fighting for them every year. I'm fed up of being shouted at by parents who don't believe I can't move GCSE exams or magic up staff for individual rooms. I'm fed up of chasing teachers for information and I'm fed up with students who don't think the rules apply to them.
I love the job but I'm worn out.

I’ve just left as one and now don’t work in a school. It was too much. I also did admissions, data and office cover and it was making me ill.

Agree with all of this too. Too many people without any understanding trying to bend the rules or thinking I could pull rooms and invigilators out of my arse. SLT making last minute changes. It’s a very very underappreciated role.

I used to do it OP, never again! Seriously undervalued role.

Hi, fellow EO’s. I resigned. I can’t keep on like this. 15 hour unpaid days. AB’s moving the goalposts, zero support from
AQA in particular who have spectacularly messed up students futures. Too many sleepless nights worrying over other peoples children and neglecting my own due to being so busy. Too many internal exam cycles and I’m just done 💔 Loved the school and kids but can’t keep doing this to myself.

I hear you. I quit in June. I miss the work as I was bloody good at it if I’m honest but I don’t miss the stress and sleepless nights. I don’t miss doing the 4 job roles I did either (EO, Admissions, data & office cover) whilst my EO role was always treated as if it was least important by SLT.

I’m much happier now and whilst I’ll always be sad the role was never going to be allowed to be as great as it could be, sanity had to prevail.

good luck. You’ll be better for it.

@coolpattern i know this is an old thread but I wondered what you went on to do?

I am an EO and changed schools at the start of this year but I am not loving the extra stress, especially as DD goes into an exam year next year.

What roles are suited to washed up and exhausted EOs? 😂

I went on to be an admin manager in a completely different industry. The organisation and admin/IT skills easily transfer into so many roles.

@DaffodilGreen thanks! How did you manage the transition to full time rather than term time?

I managed it by only working 4 days per week. A day off every week outweighs term time overall as the 6-8 week burnout doesn’t happen. Monday is my day off so I get the bank hols pro rata’d back in to my annual leave too.

Ah yes that makes sense.

Thank you so much for replying. X