Invigilation 2022 - guidance for centres
It is important that you are prepared to work with your invigilation team and that you are aware of the following key areas:
Chief Invigilator role
All centres should nominate a Chief Invigilator and a Depute Chief Invigilator. The Depute Chief Invigilator must be prepared to cover the Chief Invigilator duties in the absence of the Chief Invigilator.
Plan your invigilator requirements
The ratio of invigilators to candidates for the 2022 examinations is one invigilator to 35 candidates (or part thereof). As part of this process, you should also consider and plan for all separate accommodation requirements and ensure that there is sufficient cover for candidates requiring alternative arrangements within the invigilation team. For 2022 you should nominate additional invigilators to ensure adequate cover for any shortfall of invigilators during the exams.
Please ensure that your nominations:
- are suitable to work within a school or college environment and able to undertake the duties of the role.
- live within easy reach of your centre. Focus should be given to your local community when sourcing new invigilators, with an emphasis on using public transport and car sharing to reduce environmental impact.
Guidance on appointing former centre staff as invigilators
Former centre staff may be considered for any invigilation role, but there are restrictions on how ex-staff can be used if fewer than three years have elapsed since they were employed by the centre.
- Three years or more since they worked for the centre: There are no restrictions on using ex-staff three or more years after they were employed by the centre.
- Fewer than three years since they worked for the centre: Former staff who have worked for the centre within the last three years may be used, but to prevent potential conflicts of interest, they must not invigilate on a one-to-one basis for any exam and must not invigilate exams for subjects they taught. If appointed as a Chief or Depute Chief Invigilator, another invigilator must be present when packaging the scripts for the subject(s) that the CI/DCI taught. To prepare for these situations, you may require to use an additional invigilator on specific days to ensure adequate cover.
Exceptional contingency
Current centre staff, local authority employees or any person associated with the centre can only invigilate as an exceptional contingency arrangement. If you have a shortfall of invigilators due to late call-offs, current centre staff or local authority employees, exceptionally, can be used. Parents cannot be used as a contingency. You do not need prior approval from SQA for this, but you should notify SQA that you have invoked this contingency by contacting us as soon as possible. Temporary invigilators used as contingency must not invigilate on a one-to-one basis for any exam and must not invigilate exams at all for the subjects they currently teach or have taught within the last three years. In addition, they should not package scripts if unsupervised. For contingency purposes, it is advisable to arrange for a small number of current staff, or people associated with your centre, to participate in invigilator training so they can step in at short notice should this situation arise.
Any other exceptions to these requirements must be approved in advance by SQA - please complete our contact form.