Dr Alan Waymont

Examinations Manager

Peter Symonds College, Winchester

Notice - Alan has had to suddenly resign from his post as chair of the EOA this summer for personal reasons but will remain in close contact with his fellow board members for the forthcoming September meeting to help with the hand over of his duties and responsibilities. He will continue with his blog and support for the EOA community. Alan will continue to work in background through the EOA to raise the profile of our community so that its members are acknowledged appropriately for the invaluable work they put in for teh safe delivery of our exam system.

Background

Alan Waymont is the Examinations Manager at Peter Symonds College, Winchester - a Sixth Form College with 3,000 16-19 year olds and an Adult Education Centre with around 2,000 participants. Alan believes that the college is the largest 'A' Level centre in England and Wales and his annual budget is around half a million pounds. He is responsible for ensuring that all assessment provision is carried out effectively, efficiently and in accordance with awarding body rules and regulations. He deals with about 25 different examination boards across all levels and in a variety of qualifications.

Experience

Prior to becoming an Examinations Officer, Alan was a senior police officer, responsible for running an extremely busy Division in Central London. He gained a wealth of experience in management and administration, finance, personnel work and of course, catching the occasional criminal! During this time he was also a Staff Officer with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, inspecting police forces throughout the UK.

He has been in education and examinations since 1996, working firstly in a Further Education College and then at his present college since 1999. During this time he has dealt with over 60 awarding bodies and has gained considerable experience in administering all types of assessment. He has used this experience to train others, to fully participate in networking groups in Hampshire, Dorset and West Sussex and assisting in the development of the Edexcel Exam Officers qualifications which were introduced several years ago. He has been a member of advisory and focus groups for the NAA, QCA and the Examination Officers' Association.

Vision

"I believe that the Examination Officers' Association (EOA) is a networking group on a grand scale but has the opportunity to influence and effect real change for the good of the EOA membership and others in education, by speaking with a powerful, knowledgeable and authoritative voice to the decision-makers of the education world.

Our combined influence should and must raise the status of examination office staff, recognising that they are not just administrators but highly skilled and knowledgeable individuals who are vital in the education world.

The EOA should identify and target key individuals and organisations which directly impinge upon our roles and ensure that they understand our needs and difficulties and then work jointly with them to improve our conditions and relieve some of the stresses which undoubtedly affect us.

As an elected members of the Board of Trustees, I will ensure that the EOA leadership never loses sight of these basic ideals and that the EOA strives to ensure that its members are represented at all levels in the education sector and its memberships' views and experience are used and sought at every opportunity before change is made to any future exams systems."