Exam invigilator

[Countquack]

Every year for the past I don’t know how many years I’ve seen local secondary schools advertise for exam invigilators. I’ve never applied as it seemed far too much work for far too little money and I didn’t need the money.

Now the DC are older and my part-time job isn’t giving the overtime it once did I could do with a little bit of extra cash but I’ve missed all the deadlines for applications. I’m not even thinking about this exam season but maybe for next academic year.

In a previous life I’ve worked as an Exam Officer in HE and I’ve got QTS. Although I have a masters degree and have my English and Maths passes at level 2 ( 0 level/GCSE) my maths is atrocious and I’m dyslexic. Would these issues be barriers?

Would it be worth sending my cv with a covering letter to the schools asking to be considered for next year? If I so should I say I could probably only work one or two days a week? Or, should I just wait until I see the jobs advertised again?

I'd ring the Exams officer and see if they need any more for this year.

I am an exams officer.

I would bite your hand off. You don't need qualifications, you need to be able to pass the training (you get unlimited attempts) turn up on time and not scare the pupils.

And don't commit to it unless you can be available for all core exam dates as that is when invigilators are needed most!!!

You are ovethinking this job!

Ah, overthinking, yes, that’s me.

I work with young people and I don’t think I scare them!

I could not be available for every exam date but I could be available every week that there are exams over the course of the year. I have a part-time job that pays a lot better than the invigilator role which I would not give up.

I used to invigilate. Most of us had other P/T jobs or invigilated at more than one school. Especially useful to invigilate at an Independent and a State as often the mocks are at different times in the year. Was fine. It's not rocket science but you need common sense, be reliable and not get in a flap! I enjoyed it.

For next year have you considered Centre Inspector Services? Currently run by AQA they look for people with past experience as an EO and it's fairly flexible work in the few weeks building up and during the exam season.

The jobs I’ve seen are all state but there are plenty of independent schools around her.

I haven’t heated of Centre Inspector Services run by AQA but I’ll Google!

You are massively overthinking - centres are crying out for invigilators and you would be much needed

25 years ago I’d not have given it a second thought but the menopause has robbed me of my confidence.

We always need invigilators. You sound perfect.

I invigilate (part of my role) and scribe and read. Invigilation is deadly dull, I’ve never needed my (crap) maths for scribing because you write exactly what they say. It’s all hands on deck this year as we’ve lost loads of regular invigilators, if someone like you rocked up our exams officer would cry with gratitude. The only thing is getting a dbs in time.

Yes, the DBS, I must have one for my current job but I am I right in thinking I have to have one for each job? Can I apply for one?

Most schools are desperate for more invigilators and normally accommodate people around their availability. I wouldn't say you are too late for this year at the moment. It might be worth ringing your local schools. They would arrange your DBS. Different schools employ you for different exams. My local private school pays marginally more but doesn't employ people for mocks. We do mocks in Nov and March, Btecs GCSE and A levels and do a week of Year 10 exams after summer GCSEs so they come around quite often. I prefer reading and scribing for those with SEN as you get to sit down all the time plus we build up a relationship with the one student we do all their exams with. My school pays just over £11 an hour and pays half an hour for setting up and half an hour for clearing away after. Another local school only pays 15 mins before and after so it's worth checking out what your local schools offer.

Yes, it’s around £11 an hour and I’m in London where the London Living Wage is £11.95. I’d make more an hour from doing a days cleaning, something else I am considering!

I'm in London and the schools I worked ranged from £11.30 an hour (State) to £14.50 for Private. More if a Lead Invigilator.
Usually in an hour before exam start and finish when all is cleared up etc. if we only had 15 minutes paid at the end of the exam I wouldn't have done it!

Definitely a lack of invigilators locally . All of the ones I know are either retired from other jobs or work part time elsewhere as well . Schools are happy with you only being available set days too. A lot of schools didn’t advertise the jobs as they had plenty of people requesting the role , but at present that situation has changed.

Be aware you need to be happy to run class exams by yourself , varying from one on one to approx 15 SEN students at a time as well as just helping in the larger venues. The training is fairly simple , although does require 100% pass rate on all the test sections , but unlimited attempts given . You will also need to undertake safeguarding training and the school will arrange your DBS. Tends to be around minimum wage plus a little extra .

You need to be comfortable communicating with the students , especially if you are running the room exams as you need to give them the instructions prior to the exam starting and deal with questions from them during the exam.

Definitely email the schools exam office if you are interested, as you could start after the summer holidays , I suspect you have left it too late for May & June exams unless your local school is really desperate as the exams office will be full on scheduling exams after Easter .

I’m an invigilator (also read and scribe) and the only maths I use is writing up the exam finish time for candidates with extra time. I work at two schools which have mocks at different times so hours available in jan, March, May June and November. I get paid from time I collect papers from exam office to the time I return the completed papers.

I've just got an invigilator job. Actually I was offered 2 and had an interview at a 3rd school but can't be in 3 places at once!
My DBS took just over a week. I had a training session ie. Sitting in a room with the other invigilators and will be able to shadow the experienced ones for some other exams before the GCSEs start. I had no confidence and am still a little anxious about it but I'll see how it goes.
We had to say what dates we could/couldn't do and they'll work the shifts around it for everyone

Thanks all. I shall maybe go for it then.

I did it too there is training and a real sense of being a group. You are also a proper school employee. I am now a part time exam assistant with overtime hours for invigilating over the summer. Pay isn’t great but like working in a school

Hi, did you end up going for a job as an exam invigilator? I’ve just been interviewed and got the job. Just need to do the training. I wondered how you found invigilating?

Hello, well done on getting the invigilator job.

I didn’t go for the invigilation jobs in the end as just as I was about to apply I was offered a full-time position at my current employer. I’d be interested to hear how you get on and what the training involves.