Monitor exams... official MoneySavingExpert.com discussion

little_green

Browntoa wrote: »

I know it's an old thread but this is still worthwhile and it's the time of year when many schools are advertising for covering the march mock exams and then the real exams in May - June.

Look on job sites like indeed but also direct on schools websites as some only advertise there.

Pay is now £8 to £12 an hour depending where in the country you are

I got my first post in may this year , just been accepted af a second school as I'm basically already trained. I'm planning to split my availability over both schools to maximize the amount of hours I get.

Fairly easy Money if you don't mind a lot of walking

It's an enhanced DBS check , you can make this "portable" by registering here

https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Within 30 days of it being issued. Portable means you can use it for ANY future enhanced or basic DBS job in the future for a fee of £13 a year otherwise you need to get a new one for each job

I'm not from a school of teaching background so that's not a requirement

are you able to clarify, are you employed by the local authority for this role?

Browntoa

By the school or trust that runs the exam

Mrs_Soup

If you live near a university they may also be in the market for invigilators - you wouldn't normally need a DBS for this as university students are adults. You do need a methodical approach, a hefty dose of common sense and an air of authority (not to be bossy but students are often nervous in an exam situation and it helps if they think you know what is going on).

Moonpixie

I recently started doing this at a university last year, through an agency.

For those who think it would be boring, think again. I was never still for a minute as I was sent to invigilate in a massive hall with over 300 students. The actual invigilating is easy and with student's hands going up every few seconds there was always something to deal with.

The hard part, IMO, was the room prep as there is meant to be a chief invigilator in charge, but these tended to be uni academics who didn't really know exactly what to do.

There was an ex-teacher who was support invigilating and if hadn't been for her organising everything then it would have been total chaos. She acted as the chief invigilator almost every time but was never paid extra for it.

The hard part for me was really to do with numbers, as I get quite stressed when I have to deal with them. So in a room with over 300 students, there may have been up to three different exams going on, and I remember trying to sort out the seating numbers for each exam one time and making such a pig's ear of it I had say I was feeling a bit faint and stepped out for 10 mins while all the students got seated. I thought I done it right but the exam officer was questioning the organisation of seat numbers so I thought I must have really botched it up.

When I got back, no one mentioned a muck up, so I don't know what happened, but I'm invigilating again this month, so know to say what I'm not confident with doing and just politely decline from that task.

So, I think a lot is down to the organisation itself with how hard this job can be.

The_Miser

Beware; you will be required to supply ID including a birth certificate. When I applied they refused me point blank because I have an adoption certificate issued in the UK on the orders of the courts in Plymouth, Devon when I was 7. An adoption certificate is not a birth certificate so you will not even be considered.

Chloe_G

If you want to be an invigilator it's best to decide whether you can make this a long term commitment - this is because the schools have to take time to train you each year and it's really costly for the school when they have taken the time to train you and then you only do one session and the school never hears from you again! Schools need a bank of reliable invigilators who are free during exam periods (some schools use invigilators for mock exams as well). If you prove your reliability the schools will use you more.

Most schools are academies now so you will get paid by the academy in the month after you have worked. It's well worth it.

aliwali

Yes, it’s a great way to earn a bit extra. I get £10.21 per hour. I’m a part time teacher so can commit to 3 days per week during exam season and they are fine with that. Did mocks in November and got just over £200 in time for Christmas. I really enjoy it.