Events

Celebrating ten years of the EOA – driving the profession forward!

You can access all the pictures on the following links below:

For conference resources click here
 

The Examinations Officers’ Association (EOA) held their annual conference this year on 6/7^th July at Wyboston Lakes Conference Centre, near Bedford. Members and stakeholders from all over the UK and abroad came together  to celebrate ten years of the organisation and its major contribution to the safe delivery of our examination system.

The two day conference opened with an emotionally charged Question Time session, chaired by  former TES journalist Warwick Mansell. On the panel was Isabel Nisbet (Ofqual), Dr Jim Sinclair (JCQ), John Fairhurst (ASCL) and Alan Waymont, chair of the EOA Board of Trustees. A range of issues such as the future of the diploma, QCDA’s demise, rising exam fees and the impact of controlled assessments on centres were all hotly debated.

Dame Kelly Holmes CBE opened the second day with a very uplifting presentation on the importance of this role and linked her experiences of overcoming many difficulties in her own personal life, as she pursued her dream of Olympic Gold. Dame Kelly stated that the exams office community are facing change yet again in the education system but without the invaluable support of the EOA their role will become intolerable.

But there is hope for the exam office community with the recent public acknowledgement of Jan Martin who was awarded a MBE for her services to the EOA exams office community. Jan has been in education for over thirty years, as a teacher, exams officer, chair of the EOA and is now overseeing the Continual Professional Development programme for the EOA, ensuring that this community will have a more confident, professional sustainable workforce.

Over 200 delegates and guests attended talks, workshops and clinics on various aspects associated with this role. The EOA conference provided  experienced members of the exams office community with an opportunity to share and experience valuable training from a variety of professionals to help them manage their role more effectively and successfully within their centres.

 Andrew Harland, Chief Executive and founder member of the EOA closed the conference with a challenging statement – “ we have much to celebrate …. but forget the last ten year; its the next ten years that count”.