Invigilator

The Portsmouth Grammar School is a leading co-educational school located in the historic heart of Portsmouth.

We are seeking to appoint to our established team of regular part-time Invigilators at The Portsmouth Grammar School.  

We welcome applications from candidates who can support external exams in the summer term 2023 and we hope successful candidates will be willing to join our team of regular invigilators who are available to return throughout the year to support both internal and external exams on an ad hoc basis.

Invigilators conduct external exams in the presence of candidates, ensuring that the integrity of the process is upheld in accordance with the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) guidelines. In addition, they can be offered sessions to support the school’s own cycle of internal exams in accordance with the school’s policies and procedures for internal examinations.

Our regular invigilators support examinations at key times throughout the year which are typically as follows;

-         May and June for external exams at GCSE and A Level

-         October and November external exam resits and external university entrance exams

-         January internal mock exams

-         At other times during the academic year as required by the Head of Examinations

Invigilator hours will be determined by the school’s Head of Examinations. The school makes no specific guarantee of any work throughout the year and invigilator requirements for the summer term external exam schedule will not be known until after Easter each year.

For the summer exams Invigilators should be available for at least 3 days each week during May and June 2023. This will need to be confirmed in advance of the exam period through the completion of an availability schedule. We can offer a small amount of flexibility for holiday or family commitments for a block of time during the exam period.

It is a requirement of employment that invigilators must be available for an annual meeting and training session before the start of the summer term exams. In 2023, the meeting will take place on 29th March 2023. At this meeting there will be safeguarding training, word processing training and invigilation training. Invigilators may also be asked to attend additional invigilator meetings or training throughout the year. This could also involve online training.

Examinations in the summer term 2023 will take place from 2nd May 2023 to 28th June 2023 and the length of sessions can vary. The busiest period will be from 15th May to 23rd June. For invigilators, morning sessions start at 8.30 am and can finish anytime between 11 am and 1 pm. Afternoon sessions start at 1.30 pm and can finish anytime between 3.30 pm and 6.30 pm. There are no examinations during the summer Half Term.

For external examinations you will be paid for the full period of each examination, including any extra time granted to individual candidates, plus an allowance of 30 minutes’ administrative time to enable each examination to be started and finished smoothly.

Following the summer term exam session we hope that you will wish to join our team of regular invigilators and work on an ad hoc basis throughout the year as required by the Head of Examinations. These additional invigilation sessions will be offered throughout the year but there will be no expectation that you must undertake them. This would be only on a basis that you are willing and free to attend. It is essential that our regular invigilators are registered with the DBS update service.

Invigilators are required to support the following activities:

·        To assist in splitting and distributing papers for satellite rooms 30 minutes before the start of each exam if required

·        To carry out the ‘second pair of eyes’ check

·        To help organise candidates at the start and end of each exam

·        To help provide the correct information and material for successful completion of the exam

·        To help ensure that the conduct of the exam takes place within the guidelines set down by JCQ and the Exam Boards

·        To ensure the safe guarding of pupils and attend training as instructed by the Senior Deputy Head

·        To be vigilant during exams, whilst not disrupting the candidates. Reading, accessing mobile phones or other such activities are not permitted, apart from as part of the conduct of the examination

·        To refer to the Head of Examinations if malpractice is suspected

General Requirements

Experience of invigilation is not required as training in the role and duties of an invigilator will be provided.

•       Invigilators are required to declare if they have invigilated previously

·        Invigilators are required to confirm their availability in advance of the main exam periods and should be available for at least 3 days each week during the external examination period. This should be confirmed on the application form

·        Invigilators are required to know and understand the confidentiality and security requirements of the invigilation process and to put this guidance into practice at all times

·        Invigilators must have basic IT skills (familiar with use of email, mobile phone messaging etc.)

Person Specification

Invigilators must:

·        Be confident and able to communicate with staff and students, alongside a strong sense of self-awareness and sensitivity for the need to avoid any unnecessary disruption to a candidate’s concentration during examinations

·        Be willing to undertake all necessary safeguarding and other training as instructed by the Senior Deputy Head

·        Be a good team member who can work on their own initiative

·        Be accurate and have a good attention to detail

·        Be reliable, flexible and readily available during main exam periods.

·        Have an appropriate level of fitness for the role and be able to respond in times of emergency

·        Understand that exam security and confidentiality is paramount at all times

How to apply:

Candidates are asked to apply either through the link on our PGS website www.pgs.org.uk or alternatively by using the online form linked to this advert on www.tes.com.

The closing date for applications is noon, 2nd February 2023 and early applications are welcomed. Any enquiries about the role or how to apply are welcome at hr@pgs.org.uk

Interviews will be scheduled to take place on the school site on Monday 6th February and Wednesday 8th February 2023.