Exams Officer - London - ref. z32196715
What skills and experience we're looking for
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Support Staff- QUALIFICATIONS
- Good general level of education to A level or equivalent standard.
- Degree level education – desirable.
- Recent and relevant training in exams officer role.
- EXPERIENCE
- Working effectively within an administrative setting and managing own workload.
- Use of ICT systems, including databases and spreadsheets.
- Processing data where a high degree of accuracy is required.
- Experience of working in the education sector.
- Working within the examination process within an educational environment.
- Experience of working in a Secondary school environment.
- Experience of organising rotas and assigning specific duties to a team of Exam Invigilators.
- KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- High level of general IT Skills.
- Good interpersonal skills and professional manner.
- High level of personal organisation and ability to work under pressure and work to time-sensitive deadlines.
- Ability to respond and adapt calmly to a range of situations.
- Ability to work in a team or independently.
- Attention to detail and accuracy.
What the school offers its staff
Who we are
Southfields Academy was a stand-alone converter academy situated in South West London on the Southfields - Earlsfield border and in 2018 founded the Southfields Multi-Academy Trust with its partner, Linden Lodge School.
The Academy has the highest expectations of achievement and behaviour and offers a nurturing and supportive environment where it celebrates difference and ensures that everyone, students and staff, meets their full potential. Central to this is our restorative behaviour policy, which is based on Paul Dix’s publication, ‘When the Adults Change, Everything Changes: Seismic Shifts in School Behaviour’.This approach prioritises relationships and repairing damage to them over punishment.
It involves explicitly teaching social skills, facilitating restorative conversations and meetings to address harm and find solutions, and ensuring consistent application by all staff. The focus is on understanding the causes of behaviour, giving students a voice, and building a positive school culture.The Academy values every individual and commits to ensuring everyone feels supported and listened to.
The Academy has a positive "can do" attitude, believing that the sky is its limit, and it thinks creatively and innovatively to meet the needs of its learners and the community.The Academy's examination results and student destinations are a testament to this.
What we are looking for:
We are seeking to appoint a highly skilled and computer literate Exams Officer who wants to work in a role where there is ample opportunity to apply their planning, organisational and communication skills. The Exams Officer will be responsible for the efficient running of the examination cycle, liaising with senior leaders, curriculum leaders and other relevant staff regarding examination entries, coursework, assessment procedures and protocols to ensure the seamless delivery of the school’s annual examinations calendar fully compliant with the requirements of examination bodies.
The Exams Officer will also act as the Academy’s BTEC Quality Nominee and be responsible for the registration and certification of applied learning courses.
Professional Development
The Academy has a tradition of innovation in education and pedagogy.The opportunity for teachers to not only make an impact on their own practice but that of colleagues across the profession is key to this success.
All teachers have professional development opportunities, designed for their career point, and department meetings are more often than not given over to the development and refining of practice rather than housekeeping.
Early Career Teachers benefit from a programme led by members of the Senior Leadership Team, there is an Early Professional Development Programme for second year teachers and through leadership opportunities across the Academy there is a culture of pushing those aspiring middle and senior leaders to reach their goal.
The Academy has a tradition of growing its own future middle and senior leaders.
Staff benefits
In addition to competitive salaries, subscription to the Teachers' Pension Scheme and for Support Staff the Local Government Pension Scheme, Southfields Academy has a great deal to offer those that work there.
Staff are automatically enrolled as members of the Aspire Centre which is the Academy's onsite sports centre and adult learning facility.Staff can use the fitness suite and the swimming pool during supervised sessions before the school day begins and after school.
Staff are provided with tea and coffee during break time and there is a designated staff counter in the dining room at which staff can purchase food at cost price during the school day.
The Academy has a private day nursery on site at which staff can enrol their children and at which a discount is available for Academy staff, subject to spaces being available.
Subject to the position and to negotiation with the Principal, part time working is supported at all levels.
Additional information
Please note that Southfields Academy will only accept applications directly from candidates themselves. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should a sufficient number of applications be received. With this in mind, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible in order to avoid any disappointment.If you do not hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Please be aware that Southfields Academy is unfortunately unable to provide visa sponsorship.
Southfields Academy is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and recognises the importance of an inclusive and diverse workforce. We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates.
Southfields Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, along with other relevant pre-employment checks.
Southfields Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, along with other relevant pre-employment checks.In line with the recommendations in KCSiE 2023, these include basic online checks of shortlisted candidates’ social media presence and other internet-based public forums.
Further details about the role
ROLE: Examinations OfficerRESPONSIBLE TO: Data and Exam Lead
CONTRACT: Permanent
WORKING PATTERN: 08.00-16.00, Monday – Friday (35 Hours per Week)
(Term Time - Plus three weeks)
MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:
- To take responsibility for the administration of all external examinations and support with internal examinations as appropriate.
- To be responsible for the administration of vocational courses, from centre approval and candidate registration to certification and appeals.
- To ensure that accurate records are kept through efficient use of the MIS.
- To support the Data & Examinations Lead in ensuring that the Academy is compliant with the JCQ regulations and awarding body requirements in order to safeguard the security and integrity of the examinations/assessments at all times.
- To ensure exams processes are strictly followed and key deadlines are met.
- To ensure accuracy in relation to examination and course entries, changes, withdrawals, remark requests and assessment data.
- To support the Data & Examinations Lead in training and managing invigilators for both internal and external exams.
- To respond to any queries or discrepancies arising from the issuing of examination results.
DUTIES:
Main Duties and Responsibilities- To take responsibility for the administration of all external examinations and support with internal examinations as appropriate.
- Maintain and develop systems to manage and coordinate all aspects of the exams and vocational course administration process.
- Lead a team of invigilators as well as direct staff members in the exam hall to ensure that the JCQ rules are adhered to.
- Liaise with any partner organisation which is delivering qualifications through the Academy.
- Comply with JCQ and awarding body regulations, guidance and instructions and keep abreast of developments.
- Effectively use JCQ and awarding body online tools where required. Create and work to an annual exams plan to ensure key tasks are undertaken and external key dates and deadlines are met.
- Communicate clear internal deadlines and processes for gathering/sharing exam related information from/with relevant internal stakeholders.
- Provide updates on examination regulations and requirements.
- Support the Data & Examinations Lead when subject to an inspection, an investigation, unannounced visit by the JCQ/Awarding Body/Regulatory Authority.
- Ensuring all estimated grades are returned to the appropriate Examination Board.
- Support with arrangements to receive, check, store and dispatch question papers and examination material safely and securely at all times.
- During the examination seasons, working hours will vary. Be prepared to start at 7.45am and finish as late as 5.30pm.
- During the results period (mid-August), be available to download and distribute examination results and deal with arising queries.
- Support the Special Educational Needs Coordinator in implementing examination access arrangements.
- Ensure the safe keeping of all examination registers and seating plans until the deadline(s) specified by the exam board.
- Register or enter candidates for an examination or assessment in accordance with the awarding bodies’ published procedures and published deadline for that qualification.
- Support the arrangements for the timetabling, rooming, seating, resourcing and invigilation of examinations in accordance with the regulations and Academy procedures.
- Support the Data & Examinations Lead with ensuring all candidates are notified of their examination entries and the dates and times of their examinations/assessments in accordance with the regulations and resolve any clashes.
- Ensure all exam accommodation is prepared in accordance with the requirements. Manage and report on unexpected issues and irregularities that affect exams.
- Support the Data & Examinations Lead with the use of internal and external IT systems to access and manage awarding body results information and administer post results services in accordance with deadlines.
- Manage and administer the receipt, distribution and retention of examination certificates according to the regulations.
- Support with the timetabling and delivery of ESOL and MFL exams as well as the venue arrangements and exam room set up.
- To be fully aware of and understand the duties and responsibilities arising from the Children’s Act, KCSiE and Working Together in relation to child protection and safeguarding children and young people as this applies to the worker’s role within the organisation.
- To also be fully aware of the principles of safeguarding as they apply to vulnerable adults in relation to the worker’s role.
- To ensure that the worker’s line manager is made aware and kept fully informed of any concerns which the worker may have in relation to safeguarding and/or child protection.
Any other duties assigned by Principal / Headteacher / Deputy Headteacher commensurate with the grade of the post.
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.