We are looking to recruit new Exam Invigilators to join our existing examinations team.  You do not need to have previous experience in this role, however you should enjoy working with young people, have good organisational skills, be reliable, and demonstrate experience of working within a team.  Candidates should be able to offer a minimum availability of 5 sessions per week in the period 11th May to 18th June 2026, excluding w/c 25th May when there are no examinations running.  We are keen to retain you for future school years as we have exams running during approx. 14 weeks per academic year.

After your initial ½ day training in school, you will also be expected to attend 2-3 shorter training sessions throughout the school year and complete on-line training modules.  Whilst all formal training sessions will be paid time, there is an expectation that you will do some background reading of JCQ regulations to support this training.

Exam Sessions throughout the year are of varying length depending on GCSE/GCE level and subject, but will be within the following core hours: Morning: 08:30 -12:30 and Afternoon: 12:30 -16:30.  Hours will be worked on a casual basis during exam periods.  Sessions during exam periods will be governed by the number of students and the overall Exam timetable. There will be morning and/or afternoon exams scheduled but not every session every day.   Specific dates can be discussed during the interview, however we are generally looking for team members that can offer at least 1 session every day in an exam period. 

We are looking for invigilators who will be comfortable working in both our larger exam rooms, and working in a smaller room environment, which may include scribing or reading for students with assigned Access Arrangements.  We are also looking for invigilators with the flexibility to work in other exam centres within the Ridgeway Education Trust as needed.

The work involves a range of duties starting from ensuring exam materials are set up for a session, answering student queries, checking students are seated correctly, have not brought unauthorised materials into a room, walking around exam rooms during the session, and then through to collection and processing of final papers – all whilst maintaining formal exam conditions.  When comfortable with the role, we may ask you to be more actively involved in exam announcements and leading an exam room.  Security of exam papers and attention to JCQ Exam Regulations are paramount at all times.

The Exams Manager will manage the invigilators’ working hours to ensure that there are enough staff for each of the scheduled exams as required by the Joint Council of Qualifications (JCQ).

Key personal attributes that we are looking for are:

• A strong desire to help children succeed
• Effective oral communication, numerical and written English skills
• Punctual, flexible and reliable
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to relate to staff and students
• Have a sense of responsibility, balanced with a re-assuring presence
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Ability to follow strict rules surrounding exams; (full training will be given)
• Demonstrate common sense and fast thinking where required
• Ability to use email, and
• An understanding of examination processes and SEN would be advantageous

We are hugely proud of our school community and St Birinus is very much a “good” school on the way to becoming “great”.  In February 2025, the school was judged as continuing as ‘Good’ with an ‘Outstanding’ judgement for Leadership and Management. Ofsted recognised that the school “has successfully established a strong culture of ‘care, courtesy and commitment’ among high expectations.  These are lived out by staff and pupils alike” in addition to the school having a “friendly and welcoming atmosphere” where “pupils respectful and courteous to others and well behaved in lessons”.  We are proud that they see that our boys are “very well prepared for the future and life in modern Britain”.

Outcomes for our students (P8 +0.4 in October 2024) are in the top 5% of schools nationally for boys’ only progress and the compelling ethos of this school is literally written all over the walls.  We pride ourselves in creating a vibrant and visceral environment in which boys thrive and accrue the knowledge, skills, experience and character that will realise their potential and allow them to seize any opportunity, now or in the future.

 The infinite goal - We aspire to be a national centre of excellence for all boys’ state education.

As a member of Ridgeway Education Trust, St Birinus School works in very close partnership with Didcot Girls’ School (Ofsted Outstanding, November 2022) and share a 400 strong mixed Sixth Form which is based predominantly at St Birinus.

Ridgeway Education Trust (RET) is based in south Oxfordshire and currently comprises of two secondary, six primary schools and a SCITT, serving 4,400 pupils and their communities.  Guided by the core values of integrity, ambition and leading for legacy, we are committed to delivering excellence through high quality education with powerful collaboration at its heart.

Employing great staff is key to the success of our school: the Headteacher is actively involved in every interview process.

We understand that valuing and developing our staff is the best way to release and realise their potential. In return, we seek staff who are passionate about working with young people, resilient, and with a truly growth mindset. If this is you, we look forward to hearing from you!

St Birinus School is a Family Friendly School, committed to supporting our staff so that they can carve out a professional and personal life that is fulfilling and balanced.  

Quotes and soundbites from SBS staff in the recent Stakeholder Surveys ... 

• "I love this place!"
• "Despite only having joined the school recently, I have found it to be a positive and supportive school, with a clear vision and values that students and staff understand"
• "St Birinus is the best managed school that I have ever worked in or been associated with"
• "I love working at St Birinus and intend to root myself here for the foreseeable future"

What SBS staff say that they value about their school ... 

• "Relationships with colleagues and the community feel"
• "A strong sense of community and pride" 
• "The positive influence we have on students and inclusion of all students no matter their need"
• "The strong leadership and vision from the Senior Leadership Team"
• "The focus on staff wellbeing" 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please note that the school reserves the right to interview on receipt of applications, and to appoint prior to the deadline, so early application is recommended. 

Previous applicants need not apply.

Ridgeway Education Trust is committed to safeguarding, equality and promoting the welfare of children and expects staff working in all its schools to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to satisfactory enhanced DBS, references and pre-employment safeguarding checks.  All Leadership roles will require a Section 128 check.  The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining a post. All cases are considered confidentially and according to the nature of the role and information disclosed.  

To view our Safeguarding policy, please visit our website: http://www.st-birinus-school.org.uk/1852/sbs-policies.

Please be aware that you will be required to bring your original degree certificate, proof of residence and photographic ID, as applicable, to interview and online searches may be made for shortlisted candidates, as part of due diligence checks.  If you currently work or have recently worked in a school environment we require a reference from the headteacher.

St Birinus School is a Family Friendly School, committed to supporting our staff so that they can carve out a professional and personal life that is fulfilling and balanced. 

Our RET Staff Charter summarises the commitment we make to all staff who join and work at Ridgeway Education Trust.

We are committed to expressing our values of high quality learning, respectful relationships and an inclusive environment in the day to day experience of staff and students throughout the school.

St Birinus School is an equal opportunities employer.