Paying for an invigilator?

Ok so I know this isn't related to uni but i was wondering if you could help?

Basically I have a medical condition which is really unpredictable and has become like this really over the past year. I had to take some of my AS levels last year in intensive care/hospital. We received a letter from my school saying that they feel this year I should be in a separate room with another invigilator, which is fine with me as I understand that it could be disruptive to others if I was ill in an exam. My problem is that they then say that the additional cost of invigilation will be charged to us?! Are they allowed to do that (it is a private school so I know they get away with a lot, but still...)? I just feel that it is unfair to charge me just because I have a medical condition? :s-smilie:

Any thoughts or experiences would be much appreciated :frown:

Reply 1

Casshern1456

18

That's awful, how much would that be?
I think the best way to settle this is for you to speak with your school's exam boards officer and if they won't do anything about it then you've got-to pay haven't you? since you go to a private school anyway and suppose each year is 8-10k you wouldn't miss an exam just so you don't need to pay for it.

Reply 2

Chriz M

10

Casshern1456

That's awful, how much would that be?
I think the best way to settle this is for you to speak with your school's exam boards officer and if they won't do anything about it then you've got-to pay haven't you? since you go to a private school anyway and suppose each year is 8-10k you wouldn't miss an exam just so you don't need to pay for it.

I'm sure that shouldn't be allowed under some Disabled Discrimination Act. I would also suggest writing a letter to either your exams officer or if necessary you head. It is really unfair, if you have extra time in exams you don't have to pay extra for your invigilators.

Reply 3

Titch89

14

Chriz M

I'm sure that shouldn't be allowed under some Disabled Discrimination Act.

Yeah, this is what I'm thinking too.

Reply 4

Scary Monster

6

I'm pretty sure that being a private school they are allowed to do so, as they can charge for additional services.

I'd be tempted to try and make the school at least feel a little bit awkward about it, and point out that if they are counting hours, there are a lot of hours you've paid for and not used through being ill.

Reply 5

Rainbow-Dream

15

That does seem harsh. Invigilators at my local schools are paid £7-£9 an hour depending on how much they do. I'd try sorting it out as you shouldn't have to pay.

Reply 6

cari

OP

1

Thanks for the replies, I will speak to my exams officer after half term. They conveniently didn't say how much it will cost either, but given that i have about 20 hours of exams I'm guessing it won't be cheap!

Reply 7

hypocriticaljap

2

without a statement of special educational need I doubt there is any requirement on the school to provide special facilities for you at their expense. Without one how do you prove need?

Reply 8

FadedJade

15

Just tell them you will sit the examinations with everyone else, and if they insist you must be separate then reasonably they should pay for it. Dont know where you stand legally though, sorry.

Reply 9

Titch89

14

hypocriticaljap

without a statement of special educational need I doubt there is any requirement on the school to provide special facilities for you at their expense. Without one how do you prove need?

It's called a reasonable adjustment. If they can justofy it, (I don't think they can) then it's not discrimination.

Reply 10

Jintie

1

If it's not charged to you then it's charged out in fees to all of the parents. I'm not sure that anyone consider that more fair? If you have a disability then you will be paid the attendance allowance and this is what it's for... covering the extra costs your disability may incur. If you don't receive the attendance allowance it's because you are not registered as disabled in which case I'd say it's more fair you cover the cost. I am an invigilator and people have all sorts of reasons they don't want to share an exam room with others - from hay fever to hating someone else in their class. It's ok when there are just one or two extra invigilators needed but the school probably doesn't want to set a precedent as otherwise the cost of exams would quickly increase for everyone. And invigilators are poorly paid so it's difficult to find them.

Reply 11

Tiger Rag

22

Original post by Jintie

If it's not charged to you then it's charged out in fees to all of the parents. I'm not sure that anyone consider that more fair? If you have a disability then you will be paid the attendance allowance and this is what it's for... covering the extra costs your disability may incur. If you don't receive the attendance allowance it's because you are not registered as disabled in which case I'd say it's more fair you cover the cost. I am an invigilator and people have all sorts of reasons they don't want to share an exam room with others - from hay fever to hating someone else in their class. It's ok when there are just one or two extra invigilators needed but the school probably doesn't want to set a precedent as otherwise the cost of exams would quickly increase for everyone. And invigilators are poorly paid so it's difficult to find them.

Please check thread dates before posting. Thanks.

Paying for an invigilator?

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