As good practice annually review exams management and administrative processes in your centre
Benefits of conducting an annual review
- Highlights the processes that are effective, efficient and work well
- Identifies any risks within the system and processes that may need to be improved for the next exam cycle
- Informs any required centre-specific updates to exam policy, contingency planning and other exams-related policies/procedures
- Raises the profile of the exams office/officer
- Informs the continuing professional development of the exams office/officer         Â
This can be a time-consuming task, but one The Exams Office recommends you undertake.
Guide and templates
These are annually reviewed/updated and published each September-October
Raising your profile
To raise your profile in your centre, it is important that the head of centre/senior leadership team (SLT) are aware of your role and responsibilities, the complex nature of the exam process(es) that have to be managed and administered and the scale of the budget relating to exams. A formal review, reported to SLT would help in raising this awareness.
Collect information throughout the year, recording issues as they arise (at the point of occurrence) – report these in meetings with your line manager and keep records of issues to ultimately inform an annual exams review.
Example templates to support this activity:
Reflect and forward plan
- KEY TASKS REVIEW CHECKLIST TEMPLATE
(Re-published early each summer term) Designed to help exams officers reflect on the end of the academic year and review the tasks that need to be completed before the summer holiday period/before summer results day(s) in August (Also designed to support exams officers in forward planning for the start of the new academic year to reduce the administrative burden of what is normally a very busy period for centres in September)
Conducting a review
To support you in conducting a review, refer to the guide and templates below. Once you have completed your review, meet with your line manager to discuss your findings and develop an action plan.
- A GUIDE TO MANAGING EXAMS REVIEW
Provides suggestions on how to undertake a review
- Â EXAMS REVIEW TEMPLATE
Designed to support exams officers in undertaking an exams review and provides a framework for reporting to SLT what has gone well and the areas identified for improvement or development
- CANDIDATE FEEDBACK FORM TEMPLATE
- INVIGILATOR FEEDBACK FORM TEMPLATE
- STAFF FEEDBACK FORM TEMPLATE
Example forms to gather feedback from other stakeholders in the exams process and inform exams review
The Exams Office takes no responsibility for any outcomes in centres as a result of the information provided on our website, The Exams Office Hub or within our documentation. It is the responsibility of schools/colleges to apply this information as they deem necessary within their own centre. You should always contact/refer to the relevant awarding body for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding their qualifications.
