One of the highlights of our recent summer conference held at the Oval cricket ground on 3 July was the announcement of the Exams Officer of the Year award for 2023.
Launched in 2022, the significance of this award has grown considerably in 12 months, resulting in nominations being received for almost 200 exams officers.
These nominations were shortlisted by representatives from the NAEO against the following criteria:
Delivering excellence in their role which is defined as:
- Positive change within their centre or beyond, and/or
- Devising innovative processes which promote efficiency and effectiveness, and/or
- Creating procedures which guarantee the integrity and security of the examination system, and a 'level playing field' for candidates, within their centre, and/or
- Having effected a positive influence amongst their peers
The following ten exams officers were shortlisted and their nominations sent to representatives from the JCQ awarding organisations (AQA, OCR, Pearson, WJEC) for consideration to identify the winner and runners up:
- Catherine Bain (Bramhall High School, Stockport)
- Christina Dickson (Grimsby Institute, Grimsby)
- Christos Christofi (St. John's School, Cyprus)
- Fiona Holland (Chichester High School, Chichester)
- Gillian Ronksley (Sheffield Girls High School, Sheffield)
- Kirsty Wilson (The Cherwell School, Oxford)
- Nicola Barwell (Southend Adult Community College, Southend)
- Paul Cordingley (Penketh High School, Warrington)
- Rachel Talbot (Ashfield School, Kirkby in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire)
- Sara Gill (Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School, Dronfield, Derbyshire)
From the shortlist, we are delighted to announce that Christos Christofi was selected as the Exams Officer of the Year for 2023.
Christos, who has served as exams officer at St.John's School, Cyprus for over 15 years, will be presented with his certificate, and £500 gift voucher, in July 2023 by Jean Passmore from The Exams Office. St.John's School is a Ministry of Defence school serving the military community in British Forces Cyprus and educating approximately 300 students from 11 to 18 years.
Paul Cordingley, exams officer at Penketh High School, Warrington and Catherine Bain, exams officer at Bramhall High school, Stockport were announced as runners-up.
We would like to thank The Exams Office for sponsoring the award and providing the gift vouchers for Christos, Paul and Catherine.
Raising the profile and status of the exams officer role
There are several reasons why the Exams Officer of the Year award was launched and why it is has become, and must remain, a significant aspect of the academic/exams year within the exams officer community.
Firstly, the process of selecting and nominating an individual as Exams Officer of the Year provides exams officers with an opportunity to recognise the achievements of their peers, particularly those who have gone over and beyond in their role. It helps to identify individuals who have delivered excellence and a commitment to improving exams-related processes within their centre (and beyond) which protect the integrity and security of examinations.
The award provides an opportunity for the shortlisted nominated exams officers to become engaged in activities which further aid their professional development, and offer an opportunity for them to share their expertise, knowledge and skills to represent the exams officer community and support their peers beyond their own locality. This will be achieved over the coming academic year by the NAEO, TEO and the awarding organisations involving these exams officers in focus groups, training events and delivering presentations at conferences.
The Exams Officer of the Year award is also very important in helping the NAEO in promoting the work undertaken by exams officers and emphasising/evidencing the pivotal nature of the role played by exams officer within each centre. Organisations representing senior leaders and heads of centre, and key stakeholders including the Department for Education, Ofqual, the Joint Council for Qualifications and its awarding organisations are made aware of the significance of the award.
Exams Officer of the Year 2024
The next step is to build upon the success of this year’s award.
Moving forward, we want all exams officers to help us to continue to develop the significance of the Exams Officer of the Year award. Over the coming months, we will call upon exams officers to consider any invaluable support/assistance provided by one or more of their peers and to recognise this by nominating them for the 2024 award. The nomination window will open from 1 February 2024.
The NAEO will continue to promote the work of the exams officer community and this award amongst key stakeholders, including those organisations which represent heads of centres and senior leaders. We will also consider launching regional awards so we can recognise and celebrate the work of as many exams officers as possible who show a dedication and commitment to their role which currently goes unrecognised, but makes them the key individual in relation to examinations and assessments within their centre and beyond.