Exams Access Arrangements Coordinator

Job Title: Exam Access Arrangements Coordinator

Reporting to: SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) / Exams Officer

Hours: 25 hours per week term time only. Times to be negotiated with successful candidate but flexibility is necessary as the successful person must be able to start at 8am on exam days. A later start is possible on days when there are no exams.

Salary: Support Staff Scale D5. Full-time equivalent £29,800 p.a. / Prorated to term time only, 25 hours pw £17,037 p.a.

Job Purpose

The Exam Access Arrangements (EAA) Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that students with special educational needs, disabilities, or temporary conditions receive the appropriate support during examinations in line with JCQ (Joint Council for Qualifications) regulations. The role involves assessing students' eligibility, liaising with staff and parents, and implementing necessary accommodations to support fair access to exams.

Key Responsibilities

Assessment & Documentation

• Identify students requiring exam access arrangements through teacher referrals, screening, and formal assessments.
• Coordinate appropriate testing under the direction of the SENCo/EAA examiner in line with JCQ guidelines.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all students who qualify for access arrangements, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Complete and submit necessary paperwork for exam boards, ensuring deadlines are met.

Implementation of Exam Arrangements

• Arrange and oversee the implementation of approved access arrangements, such as extra time, a reader, a scribe, rest breaks, or the use of assistive technology.
• Organise timetables and room allocations for students with access arrangements during internal and external exams.
• Ensure appropriate staffing for access arrangements, including training and assigning invigilators, scribes, and readers.

Liaison & Communication

• Work closely with the SENCO, subject teachers, and pastoral staff to ensure access arrangements are embedded in students' everyday learning.
• To meet on a weekly basis with the Exams Officer to ensure Exams Access Arrangements are in place for the internal and external exams.
• Communicate with parents and students about their access arrangements, providing guidance and reassurance.
• Liaise with external professionals, such as educational psychologists and specialist assessors, where necessary.

Training & Compliance

• Keep up to date with JCQ regulations and ensure the school remains compliant with changes in guidance.
• Provide training and guidance to staff on exam access arrangements and their implementation.
• Monitor the effectiveness of exam access arrangements and make recommendations for improvement.

Person Specification

Essential

• Knowledge of JCQ regulations and requirements for exam access arrangements.

• A Levels (or equivalent qualification).

• GCSE English and Maths at Grade 4 (C) or above, or equivalent qualifications, demonstrating a good standard of literacy and numeracy.

• Experience working with students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage deadlines and multitask effectively.
• Excellent attention to detail and record-keeping skills.
• Good communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with different stakeholders.

Desirable

• Experience working in an educational setting, preferably in exams administration or SEND.
• Familiarity with assistive technology and accessibility tools.