Exams Officer

About the School

Wetherby Senior School was founded in 2015 and is a member of the Inspired Education Group of Schools. There are 452 boys on roll, all of whom study at least 1 language for 5 years and we regularly add at least 0.5 of a grade Value Added at both IGCSE and A Level. Our students achieve grades that allow them to gain places at top UK universities such as; Cambridge, LSE, Imperial, Durham and UCL and universities aboard such as; the University of Chicago, Pompeu Fabra Barcelona and the IE Business School Madrid. 

The School was founded to offer a progressive education in the heart of London. The School’s focus on providing an all-round education means that high standards are expected of the boys in all areas of school life. The School provides the boys with a broad educational experience, which includes Philosophy and Thinking Skills in the curriculum, to ensure that they are able to think critically and to problem solve but also to ensure they can be creative and collaborative in their approach, so that they develop a sense of social responsibility and respect for others. Our skilled staff, who have a wealth of experience, are preparing to send our pupils to leading universities in the UK, the US and elsewhere.

At Wetherby Senior School we seek to employ highly professional teachers with the ability and commitment to enhance the life of the School and to work effectively and collaboratively with all members of the School community to further establish and develop the School. Our emphasis on educating the whole boy means that all members of staff are expected to contribute to the pastoral care of a group of students as a Form Tutor as well as contributing to the School’s co-curricular activities. 

Job Purpose

• To lead, manage and be responsible for managing the effective and efficient administration of external examinations in accordance with the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) regulations (on behalf of the JCQ member awarding bodies) and/or awarding body rules for exams administration in a consistent and secure fashion, thereby helping to maintain the integrity of the assessment process.
• To lead and manage significant elements of internal examinations within the centre.
• To support the Head of Centre in ensuring that the centre is compliant with the JCQ regulations and awarding body requirements in order to ensure the security and integrity of the examinations/assessments at all times.
• To act on behalf of, and be the main point of contact for, the centre in matters relating to the general administration of awarding body examinations and assessments.
• To closely liaise with key stakeholders (external and internal) to ensure exam administration processes are strictly followed and key deadlines met.
• To ensure examinations are conducted in accordance with the regulations through taking an ethical approach and working proactively to avoid malpractice among students and staff.
• Support the Head of Centre in taking all reasonable steps to prevent the occurrence of any malpractice/maladministration before, during the course of and after examinations have taken place.
• To communicate with the Senior Leadership Team, Subject Leaders, teaching staff, parents, students and examination boards.
• To manage expenditure within the set annual budget.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Lead and manage the entire examination process

Planning

• Research and understand qualifications and how they are assessed.
• Identify and access relevant support available from external stakeholders (Awarding bodies/JCQ/ Network group/The Exams Office etc.)
• Manage arrangements to receive, check and store confidential question papers and examination material safely and securely at all times and for as long as required in accordance with the regulations.
• Manage potential conflicts of interest by informing the awarding bodies to timescale for each examination series and recording the measures taken to mitigate any potential risk to the integrity of the qualifications affected.
• Contribute to the creation/review/update of exam-related policies/procedures as required by the regulations and accurately reflect working practices in the centre.
• Manage conflict of interests within the centre, identifying members of centre staff that may need recording with exam board.

Pre-exams

• Manage the arrangements for the timetabling, rooming, seating, and resourcing of examinations in accordance with the regulations.
• Effectively resolve exam timetable clashes and manage overnight supervision arrangements (where arrangements may be required after all other options have been explored) in accordance with the regulations.
• Ensure all candidates are notified of their examination entries and the dates and times of their examinations/assessments in accordance with the regulations.
• Ensure all candidates are aware of the JCQ and awarding body information and regulations regarding the conduct of their examinations/assessments in advance of these taking place.
• Confirm relevant internal stakeholders, complete administrative tasks associated with centre assessed work in an accurate and timely manner in accordance with the requirements of awarding bodies and moderators.
• Effectively manage arrangements for the secure storage and dispatch of examination scripts for marking.
• Manage the delivery and storage of all external examination papers within the secure room, ensuring they are stored to JCQ standards.
• Liaise with the SENDCo to ascertain which students require access arrangements.
• Prepare and deliver assemblies to exam year groups outlining expectations.

Exam time

• Effectively manage the conduct of all examinations in accordance with JCQ regulations and/or awarding body rules.
• Ensure all exam accommodation is prepared in accordance with the requirements.
• Inform the JCQ Centre Inspection Service of any alternative site that may be used by the centre to conduct timetabled examinations.
• Manage unexpected issues/irregularities which may affect the conduct of examinations.
• Manage the facilitation of access arrangements with invigilator team.
• Support the Head of Centre and/or line manager in investigating and reporting cases of suspected or actual malpractice in connection with an examination as required by the JCQ and awarding bodies.
• Manage emergency access arrangements for eligible candidates as the need may arise during exam time.
• Act as the roving invigilator where needed and necessary.
• Maintain the confidentiality and security of candidates’ responses and dispatch scripts according to the requirements.

Results and Post-Results

• Manage the outcomes of the special consideration process.
• Liaise with awarding bodies in relation to any script or candidate absence discrepancies.
• Ensure candidates and relevant internal stakeholders are aware of processes, key dates and deadlines in relation to the issue of results and the arrangements for post-results services.
• Plan, prepare for, and manage the restricted release of results and the distribution of provisional statements of results in accordance with JCQ regulations and/or awarding body rules.
• Effectively use internal and external IT systems to access and manage awarding body result information.