The National Association of Examinations Officers has launched its annual Exams Officer of the Year award.
This initiative supports our aim of raising the profile and status of the exams officer role whilst also celebrating the achievements of exams officers who have been recognised by senior leaders within their centre and peers within the exams officer community.
Following the closing date of 30 May, staff from The Exams Office and the NAEO will create a shortlist of ten exams officers from the nominations received. We will inform these exams officers and their head of centre/senior leader/line manager of their achievement.
The shortlist will be considered by representatives from the awarding bodies to decide the winners: the two runners up and the 2025 Exams Officer of the Year.
Our 2024 award winner, Kirsty Wilson, exams officer at The Cherwell School, Oxford, can be seen receiving his accolade NAEO website.
Who can nominate an exams officer?
Any member of centre staff can nominate their exams officer.
Nominations are also welcome from exams officers within a network who may want to nominate their network lead in recognition of their contribution in supporting their colleagues, or an exams officer who wants to nominate a colleague (either from a local centre or from within their multi-academy trust or academy chain) who has offered the type of support, and impacted the change, listed below.
We encourage senior leaders/line managers to nominate their exams officer where they have met/exceeded the criteria detailed below.
What type of evidence should I submit?
Although nominations based upon an individual’s character and personality are appreciated and may support a nomination, the applications which will be looked upon most favourably will focus upon, and provide examples of:
- Positive change within their centre or beyond, and/or
- Devising innovative processes which promote efficiency and effectiveness, and/or
- Creating procedures which guarantee the integrity and security of the examination system, and a 'level playing field' for candidates, within their centre, and/or
- Having effected a positive influence amongst their peers
In particular, judges will be looking for examples of how an exams officer has delivered excellence, and therefore the application form has been created with three categories: Impact, Support and Innovation.
Those exams officers who have been registered and completed, or are working towards, the new Exams Officer Professional Standards [Exams Officer Professional Standards], will find this an excellent source to record and measure achievement(s), and personal development. Furthermore, it will provide a log of tangible evidence that will help set apart a nomination, for 2024 Exams Officer of the Year, from others.
The selection panel will be looking for specific examples of impacting positive change, whether that be on the performance of an individual or developing processes/procedures which improve the integrity and/or security of the examination system within their centre.
How do I nominate an exams officer?
Nominations can be submitted via a form which is available here at the NAEO and Senior Leader/Line Manager Exam Support websites.
The closing date for nominations is Friday 30 May 2025.
When will the winner and runners up be announced?
The winner and runners up will be announced at the NAEO Summer Conference which takes place at the Kia Oval, Kennington, London on Monday 30 June.
The head of centre/senior leader/line manager of the exams officers who have been selected as runners up, and the winner, will be notified prior to the Summer Conference.
What is the prize for the winner and runners-up?
The winner and runners-up receive a gift voucher and certificate of achievement.
The winner receives £500 and the runners-up receive £250 (for second place) and £125 (for third place).
The NAEO and The Exams Office will also involve the winner and runners-up in activity such as focus groups, an opportunity to contribute to articles or present at training events/conferences to support their continuing professional development and to further raise their profile.
The NAEO would like to thank The Exams Office for their support in providing the gift vouchers which are presented to the winner and runners-up
We look forward to receiving your nomination(s) and thank you for supporting us in this milestone initiative to recognise excellence, dedication and commitment, and raise the profile, and status, of the exams officer role.
Please submit your nomination(s) submit your nominations by 31 May 2025.