A reader's job mainly involves reading the instructions and questions to the candidate. A scribe writes out the answers the candidate dictates to them. Some candidates require the volunteers to do both and extra time is allowed.
The school already has a team of very valued volunteers, willing to give up a few hours each year. However, they need to expand the number of people in their team. Obviously, the more people they have the more they can spread the work.
All that is needed is a willingness to give up a few hours each year, and to complete a small amount of initial Disclosure Scotland paperwork for child protection purposes.
The work, as the titles suggest, involves reading out the exam questions and/or writing out the pupils' dictated answers. The Scottish Qualifications Authority, who are in charge of examinations, ask only that readers "should be able to read accurately, intelligibly and at a reasonable rate" and that scribes "should be able to produce an accurate record of the candidate's responses and write legibly and at a reasonable rate".
The SQA also asks that both readers and scribes should "have sufficient knowledge of the subject to be able to record, for example, technical terms effectively".
The task is very straightforward and training and practice with students will be arranged. The greatest need for this support is obviously during the main examination periods in late November or early December (for S4 Prelims), the end of January for senior Prelims), April (for S3 internal exams) and May/June (for the main body of S4 exams). However, there is also a smaller but growing need for reading/scribing for individual students doing assessments throughout the year.
If you would be interested in finding out more and offering your services for this very important support, please contact Barry Howard, Curriculum Leader, Support for Learning, Berwickshire High School, Duns, TD11 3QQ (Tel: 01361 883710).