Exams Task Force - Coventry

The Exams Task Force was set up during the National Assessment Agency (NAA) modernisation period (2004 – 6) and was originally chaired by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), followed by the NAA and now the new regulator Ofqual. The EOA have been attending these meetings since 2004 and has been the only independent representative voice for the exam office community. This meeting which takes place after every major exam series is an opportunity for awarding bodies to report back on how the exams went and to highlight issues related for example to late fees, processing and assessment.
 

This year Ofqual focused on the various paper error issues which were much more numerous than ever before. Despite warnings from Ofqual to tighten up on paper errors and assurances by Awarding bodies that that had take place, errors continued. That is not a surprise as most papers would have been sitting in many centres secure storage untouched and unchecked, as according to JCQ rules, no papers should be opened until the live exam period. The EOA submitted a report based upon members comments and experiences to Ofqual and that report can now be seen on the following link. www.ofqual.gov.uk/files/2011-07-08-exam-errors-inquiry-tor.pdf
 

One other key issue discussed was the acceleration of awarding bodies wanting to distribute electronic results to all centres next year and remove all hard copy provision. While most exams office staff welcome this the following issues have still not been fully resolved. Firstly, that all FE and HE establishments will accept printed results material from any school source instead of hard copy results. Secondly, that all the costs and workload to do this is apparently being accepted by the teaching community knowing that they do not have to deal with these activities, at the moment.