In this week’s ‘A Conversation With…’ we caught up with Mrs Jo Farquhar, to find out more about the busy life of Shiplake’s Exams Officer. When she’s not at work, Mrs Farquhar loves spending time with her family, while dreaming of going tornado chasing in America!
When did you join Shiplake and what positions have you held previously and now?
I started as Exams Officer at Shiplake in September 2019. I was previously an invigilator here. Before that I was an Employment Tax Senior Manager at one of the big four accountancy firms until I had my daughter.
What does a day in the life of an examinations officer entail? What do you like most about your job?
My day usually starts with coffee! I’m up at 4.30am three mornings a week, to take my daughter swimming, so coffee really helps. Then there is always something to do which was not originally on my list. Most people think that when there are no exams running, I have nothing to do. However, it is a really busy role, and not just about co-ordinating GCSEs and A Levels. We offer a range of courses alongside these including BTECs, Tech Awards, IT Qualifications and Functional Skills - so there is something for every pupil to reach their full potential. This creates multiple deadlines and there is also a huge amount of preparation needed for each series of real and mock exams which run continuously through the year.
As part of this, I need to coordinate with teachers for the real and mock exams as well as working with the Learning Development team to ensure I have invigilators for pupils who may require scribes and readers. We now have a team of 30 invigilators, which is probably the most we have ever had due to courses now being more exam focused, and the fact we can offer extra support to those who need it. We have meetings every three months to make sure everyone is up to date with new procedures and to offer training. Where pupils need individual invigilators, scribes or readers, we have been trialling providing them the same few invigilators each time to make the exam process more comfortable for them.
Along with this, I have to ensure we are following examination board rules and procedures when the pupils sit their exams. There are five different exam boards for all our varying courses. One of our examining boards is an international one, meaning that all students must sit the exam at exactly the same time. Luckily, they operate by Greenwich Mean Time, so our pupils don’t have to take their exam in the middle of the night!
In the summer holidays there is a two week period that I am at school which involves preparing the exam results in a secure environment. Both results days are completely hectic from 6.00am when the results are published. The Thinking Space is open to students to collect a paper copy of their results and have the opportunity to discuss their grades, which I feel is really supportive. I am available for those who may be very close to a grade boundary to coordinate (if necessary) mark reviews, weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of doing so. Exam boards are becoming much stricter on mark reviews, which they charge for, and also grades can go down as well as up.
With all this in mind, I have to be organised and communicate with numerous people. However the best part of my job is working with all the teachers, invigilators and other staff to provide the best exam environment for our students to be able to achieve their academic results.
What are your top tips for pupils sitting their exams in the summer?
Be organised with all your equipment and be on time for the exams. Preparation means there is less stress on an already stressful day. Also remember not to bring a mobile phone or any electronic equipment. Even having it on your person or in a pocket could risk you losing your qualification.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I don't have a lot of spare time as I usually spend most of my time taking my daughter to various sporting events and competitions - swimming, hockey, netball to name a few. I love spending time with my daughter and my family. Luckily my family live in the New Forest so there are plenty of walks and fun to be had. Travelling is also something I really enjoy doing.
What is your favourite place to visit?
Japan is my favourite place in the world. I studied Maths with Japanese Studies for my degree so spent a year living in Kyoto, which is truly beautiful especially in cherry blossom season. I have been back three to four times since and still really love it there.
What are your ambitions for the future?
I wish to travel more and climb Mount Fuji again. A group of us did the climb at university and it was a wonderful experience.
My big dream is to visit Tornado Alley in the American Midwest and go tornado chasing. I like the unpredictability of the natural environment on our planet, and get excited by visiting places where natural phenomena occur which are completely out of control, such as volcanoes and extreme weather. When I was in Japan I experienced a few Earthquakes there. I suppose I love all this because it is the complete opposite to my job!
