Another thing that I have thought A LOT about regarding exams in the gym.. is temperature. I know that if I am too cold or too hot, I struggle to concentrate or learn. And yet we put all our Year 11s in the one room where temperature is most difficult to control.
Mocks in December are a nightmare.. children literally shivering, teeth chattering. And do we let them wear their coats? No.
Summer months are marginally better, but are often not. Even on the hottest days (which are rare) the gym can still feel very cold. And then in some schools, those very same spaces can be sweltering.. and smelly! None of these are the right conditions for giving your best.
Also, in recent years we’ve become so obsessed with the regulations we ourselves have become cold and we add to the frosty air. Years ago I’d give a rousing speech at the start of an exam.. and I’d smile and make kids feel like I had confidence in them. It worked. A pep talk.
But then we were told to stay away from exam halls altogether. Let the grumpy unfamiliar invigilators do their job. Don’t interfere. And if you are allowed in at all, for God’s sake don’t smile. Or say anything other than what’s on the front of the exam paper.
Is there anything in the exam regs that says the person starting the exam can’t smile and say ‘guys, I believe in you; you’ve got this!’ I don’t think so.. but we don’t do it anyway.
Exams officers and invigilators do a crucial job, but a lot of time I just want to say to them.. be a bit more human please. The controlled conditions are crucial, of course. But formality doesn’t have to mean the erasure of all that is human.
I get it though. Keep it tight! Preserve the facade! These mostly elderly individuals aren’t retirees after a few spare pounds for day trips or presents for grandchildren at all.. oh no! They’re the exam police. The official representatives of the long arm of the all powerful EXAM BOARD.
LOL. It’s probably important to instil a little bit of fear. Keeps the delicate balance of power in place. God forbid kids realise the potential for chaos given the ratio of students to retirees.
I just don’t think any of it necessitates being grumpy. Maybe it’s just me.
This is a really good read, thanks both.
Another thing that I have thought A LOT about regarding exams in the gym.. is temperature. I know that if I am too cold or too hot, I struggle to concentrate or learn. And yet we put all our Year 11s in the one room where temperature is most difficult to control.
Mocks in December are a nightmare.. children literally shivering, teeth chattering. And do we let them wear their coats? No.
Summer months are marginally better, but are often not. Even on the hottest days (which are rare) the gym can still feel very cold. And then in some schools, those very same spaces can be sweltering.. and smelly! None of these are the right conditions for giving your best.
Also, in recent years we’ve become so obsessed with the regulations we ourselves have become cold and we add to the frosty air. Years ago I’d give a rousing speech at the start of an exam.. and I’d smile and make kids feel like I had confidence in them. It worked. A pep talk.
But then we were told to stay away from exam halls altogether. Let the grumpy unfamiliar invigilators do their job. Don’t interfere. And if you are allowed in at all, for God’s sake don’t smile. Or say anything other than what’s on the front of the exam paper.
Is there anything in the exam regs that says the person starting the exam can’t smile and say ‘guys, I believe in you; you’ve got this!’ I don’t think so.. but we don’t do it anyway.
Exams officers and invigilators do a crucial job, but a lot of time I just want to say to them.. be a bit more human please. The controlled conditions are crucial, of course. But formality doesn’t have to mean the erasure of all that is human.
I get it though. Keep it tight! Preserve the facade! These mostly elderly individuals aren’t retirees after a few spare pounds for day trips or presents for grandchildren at all.. oh no! They’re the exam police. The official representatives of the long arm of the all powerful EXAM BOARD.
LOL. It’s probably important to instil a little bit of fear. Keeps the delicate balance of power in place. God forbid kids realise the potential for chaos given the ratio of students to retirees.
I just don’t think any of it necessitates being grumpy. Maybe it’s just me.
Thanks for this series. They’re all great.
All very good points. The theatre of the absurd.