Views & Opinion The end of scribes and readers? Tech could transform
exam accessibility and save schools money Comment by SAL McKEOWN, journalist and editor
Could this be the last year that schools break the bank paying for scribes and readers in exams? Nine subjects at GCSE could result in twenty different papers, more than 30 hours of exams. At current rates of £11.59ph that is over £347.70 for just one student.
Cost is one factor, but the real question is whether human readers and scribes benefit the student. JCQ regulations stipulate that: “The person appointed must not normally be the candidate’s own subject teacher or teaching assistant.”
When it comes to stress, meeting your reader or scribe in an exam must be on a par with meeting your driving examiner!
Laura Stephens is Learning Support Subject Leader at Barton Peveril Sixth Form College, well known for its innovative use of technology. This year they have 112 reader requests. This includes 33 using software, 17 using a C Pen Exam Reader and 62 with a human reader. Laura hopes to decrease the reliance on human readers and scribes next academic year. A student who generally needs help a few times in the exam would be well advised to try the Exam Pen. If they need more substantial help then the college will introduce them to text to speech software such as Texthelp and Sensory Readable. Where learners are
currently using a scribe, staff will train them on speech to text. “We need to prepare them for their future life,’ says Laura, “when they are more likely to be offered a software solution than to have a human by their side.”
Normal way of working?
Teachers hope that a candidate will have extensive practice using a scribe, reader, C Pen or software, both in class and at home, for assignments and exams. Whatever solution is chosen, the minimum recommended time would be two or three months, plus a trial in a mock exam. However, because of long waiting lists, some learners get a late diagnosis and have less time to practise.
Some schools find that students plan to use the solution in an exam but are too self-conscious to use it in lessons. At Barton Peveril they have student advocates who train staff and support students. They are the experts and encourage everyone to see the benefits of technology. “This has been really positive,” says Laura. “Since they are using technology all the time in lessons, they have lots of practical advice to offer and make it seem as if it is a really normal thing to do.”
It may be that the tide is turning. AQA is talking about running on- screen versions of English Language and Literature exams from 2025. Soon digital exams will be the norm, and those who write by hand will be the exception.
Martyn’s Law: how to protect your school Comment by RICHARD MANBY, Managing Director at Bodet Time and Kelio
In anticipation of Martyn’s Law, it is important to ensure that your educational setting is ready and prepared to protect your staff and pupils against terrorism. What is Martyn’s Law?
Martyn’s Law, also known as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, is expected to be effective later this year in a UK wide measure to protect larger premises from potential terrorist attacks.
In order to meet the requirements, every educational setting must have an effective lockdown procedure in place detailing clear
instructions and communicating them to all participants. When an alert is triggered, all staff and pupils must stay in the safest place, whether evacuating or relocating within the building or stay in the same place. What does a lockdown procedure look like? To effectively protect your school, you must be able to broadcast a lockdown or evacuation alert across the whole premises. With Bodet Time’s Lockdown Solutions, an alert can be triggered simultaneously across multiple buildings on site. The word ‘lockdown’ can be visibly transmitted, or a coded message can be broadcast to inform staff. Pre- recording the message saves time in the event of an emergency as well as reducing panic.
As it is not just the front desk that may need to trigger a lockdown, members of the Senior Leadership Team also need to be equipped with a trigger button. Bodet Time’s alerts can be triggered via a control box, or remotely from a PC or smartphone. The event may take place from any part of the premises, including outside areas. We provide a great range
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of sounders suitable for installation internally and externally and ways to trigger them.
Other elements to the lockdown procedure may include locking doors and windows, hiding under desks or moving to a safe area, and taking a register for all pupils and staff before communicating with SLT. What can you do to prepare?
At Bodet Time, we recognise the challenges that schools face with Martyn’s Law and want to support you with protecting your school. Effective procedures need to be in place for lockdown and evacuation and these questions need to be considered – Where is the lockdown system? How will it be tested? How will it be communicated? Who is accountable?
We recommend providing clear instructions, training all staff and pupils termly to avoid any doubt about what is to be carried out, and testing and communicating effectively. How can Bodet Time support you? With Bodet Time’s Lockdown Solutions: - • An alert can be triggered simultaneously across multiple buildings on site
• Messages can be pre-recorded to save time and ensure a calm message is broadcast
• Alerts can be broadcasted in a variety of ways, including text display and luminous strobes to account for pupils with visual or hearing impairments
• Includes a variety of auditory and visual alerts for broadcasting, as well as a control box with four buttons to account for different types of alert Our team will be happy to visit your site and provide you with a personalised quote for how to provide an effective solution for lockdown.
June 2024
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