Networks available to exams office staff

Back in 2007/8 the EOA prior to the National Assessment Agency (NAA) being dismantled and the new QCDA being created, a Local Network Tool was set up on the EOA website for the following reasons. The objective behind trying to link up all this valuable activity is to try and ensure all exam office staff have access to a local group which everyones agrees, is vital when working in such an isolated role.

You must be a registered Full Member to have full access to this area and the contact details.

Why must you be a full member to access this 'Network Tool'.

Under the data protection act no company or organisation can openly share your personal details and that of your group without your permision. None of the partnership groups the EOA work with can access members directly. Everyone who is a full member of the EOA is fully protected. However, to some this may be viewed as putting a restriction on better engagement with a broader community which allows all the necessary help and support to access key areas.

The obvious compromise is for both government and awarding bodies to support the concept of building an independent EOA Local Network community which serves everyone's needs and not be left to the discretion of internal and external market forces.

Exams Office Local Networks in the UK

This is for all Exam Office Staff. We are in the process of adding college networks and a 'Worldwide Network Tool' so you will never be alone again!

Use our map to find the details of Exam Office Networking Groups meeting in your local area.

BTEC Network

For all learners studying for the one of the EOA's BTEC courses in Administering and Managing Exams. Download our Networking List of BTEC participants.

Working towards greater cooperation on Local Networks

From an exam office view point none of these groups are linked up with most being driven by commercial forces and not necessarily to help serve the needs of the exam office community. However, it must be noted that a visit to any group is better that the existing hit and miss approach to exam office support at local grass roots level. The EOA only wish to help facilitate greater cooperation amongst its exam office community and the external stakeholders who support that community.

The existing NAA/QCDA local network meetings:

In the early days of modernisation it had been discussed with the NAA to prepare for what 

we have experienced recently, the withdrawal of government support and the need to have 

a more secure local network provision across the country which served the exam office

community at a level everyone  could afford and sustain. The objective was for the exsiting

NAA fostered groups to be profiled and supported by an ongoing EOA professional body on its website and while no additiuoanl funding was provided by the coming QCDA the Network Tool was set up in preparation for these changes in external support.

These groups therefore becoming the centre for exam office debates, exams updates from  

both government and awarding bodies; sharing good practice; training and encouraging a more professional workforce at a local level which inturn is linked into a national framework.

Awarding Body local networks:

Since 2002/3 the most well known groups of this kind have been those who were set up by AQA who were quick to acknowledge and respond to the commentary on the EOA website about the needs and concerns of exams office staff. These groups have been invaluable in bringing groups together, promoting good practice and encouraging a greater sense of community. However, as everyone who has attended these meetings it is not in AQA's remit to address other awarding body issues and avoid impinging directly in exam centres internal working practices and culture. 

The EOA is in negotiation with AQA to add greater detail to the present listings on the EOA website inorder for more people to access this valuable support at a local level. Added to these groups are the developing regional support framework for OCR and there is also the active Edexcel provision associated with BTEC products and services.

So why not join your local network now!