I've messed up and need advice

[Tolouse]

I'm a TA currently scribing exams for year 11, particularly one child who I have worked really intensively with this year catching him up on pretty much everything he hadn't done since the first lockdown. I'm really proud of what he has achieved. I scribe and read for him and do all his exams in a separate room with him.

He missed an exam a couple of weeks ago and I used one of our one to one sessions to catch up with it. It was a science paper. There was no front cover so I didn't have the rubric. They're chunking the exams so this has happened a few times.

One question was a calculation and in the moment I believed that the other students had had a calculator when they sat it so I let the pupil use one. It was a one mark question. It's highly unlikely he would have got it right without the calculator but not impossible.

When I got home, I realised that the others hadn't had calculators.

I really don't know what to do about it. I am so worried. If the teacher questions it, it might bring all the other work we've done and the other exams I have scribed into question. I'm gutted and really afraid for that the poor kid's results could be affected.

What should I do now? Should I approach the teacher and explain, or my line manager? I haven't been able to sleep worrying about it.

I'm also really worried about being fired. I only started to this year.

I'm a Science teacher and obviously it will depend on the exam board, but usually, pupils are allowed to use calculators in Science papers. Maybe the other kids just didn't bring one/ask?

Which exam board is it? I or someone else can probably tell you if calculators are allowed.

WJEC

Thanks for replying

First off, try not to worry, mistakes happen. I have scribed for exams in separate rooms, but have always had an invigilator and the rubric as well as they've been official GCSEs or mocks.

I'm not in secondary any more, but understand this year has been quite different. Frankly though, if school expect exam conditions, they have to provide exam conditions, at the very least you need the rubric!

If I were you, I would speak to the teacher on Monday. I would probably also bring it up with my line manager, who was the SENCo, as it sounds like there needs to be consistency for the children who need access arrangements.

Try not to worry, you made an honest mistake and one mark is very unlikely to make a difference.

It was Biology. They have had them in Physics and Chemistry, which is probably why I thought it was ok

Thank you for your reply too 13luckyblackcats

Honestly, I am a massive perfectionist and do understand @Tolouse.

Thank you. I honestly thought I was going to be told what a total idiot I am and how could I possibly make such a stupid mistake. I really appreciate your responses.

WJEC allow calculators in their normal science exams, including Biology. I’d not worry, I bet the other students forgot to take theirs or didn’t need them for the calculation. Besides, 1 mark won’t make a difference.

Relax!

@CarrieBlue is correct. WJEC allow calculators for all Science exams, therefore, the student was allowed a calculator. You haven't done anything wrong.

The other kids will have forgotten calculators and just didn't ask. I have some spare calculators and told my Y11 class this. Still, some who forgot their own didn't ask to borrow one

The first time I invigilated (at a naice, over-subscribed school) I was so surprised at the number of students who didn't have basic equipment, including something to write with @PumpkinPie2016. There were big boxes of stationery and calculators at the front and we handed them out. This was some time ago and my naivety has worn off!

I'm a science teacher & honestly, you are worrying over nothing. I wouldn't even tell the science teacher, but if you did tell me, I'd probably just say don't worry about it, even if they weren't allowed calculators, which they always are anyway in science exams anyway. The worst I would do is dock one mark for that particular question, but then only if calculators really weren't allowed.

It's at least equally the science teacher's fault for not having the front cover, so they're definitely not going to sack you for it!

Thank you all very much. I feel very relieved. I wish I had posted last night now and maybe then I would have slept!

Definitely tell someone - teacher or your line manager. If it turns out they weren't allowed calculators then one mark can simply be taken off the total. Make it clear that you need the rubric for all papers from now on.

I will. Thanks