Teachers, anyone done any exam board marking?

[Rowlers]

Just gone part-time having been head of department for 7 years.
Considering a spot of exam marking as a way of earning a little extra, and wondering what I'm letting myself in for.
Have read the OCR info but wondered if anyone here had actual experience and therefore advice before going any further.
Might bump it up next week if I get no replies this weekend!

[Moomin]

Yep, did it 2 years in a row - both before I was a mum! It's valuable as far as prof development goes, I would say - gives you a good insight into what the board are specifically asking for and this can be passed on to your dept. It can also be lucrative but VERY VERY hard work. You have to be ultra disciplined and the first year is the worst as it takes a while to get to know how to annotate as the board wants it.

I didn't get on with it TBH, as I was f/t and 2nd in dept at the time, although if I was p/t and the kids were being looked after I might consider it in the future.

I have 2 colleagues that do it every year but one is male and his partner works p/t so he can lock himself away for the duration, plus he's very experienced and works fast; the other is young, free and single but also works like a trojan after hours. She does it more for the prof dev; he does it for the money!

[swedishmum]

I did it for two years as well - actually it was GCSE moderating. No real problems with it apart from trying to fit it in around the kids. The worst was on the half term bank holiday and dh took the children out while I locked myself in with hundreds of forms!
I totally agree about the insight into exam boards.
One of my friends does a lot of SATS KS3 marking, but apparently there are always hassles with that as well.

[Rowlers]

I must admit my primary motive is money - not really bothered too much about the CPD aspect - been teaching for 12 years and been HOD so sort of been there and done that.
Is the hassle worth it for the money is my key question!!! I'm MFL so would opt only for the easyish to mark Listening and Reading papers at GCSE.
Hmm, interesting responses. I think I'm put off a little - maybe I'll apply anyway but see how our finances go. I can always say I've changed my mind.
Thanks guys.
Anyone else any different experiences?

[RTKangaMummy]

Some of our friends do it and it is lots and lots of hours

they all say the first weeks are money for taxman then for them afterwards iyswim

[donnie]

I do A level marking for EDEXCEL and it is pretty well paid - BUT a lot of hours! you can't really do it in dribs and drabs, you need to be able to shut yourself away fro hours at a time and really get stuck in. You also need to be extremely well organised, send samples of marked papers to your team leader, get the results phoned in, get the marked scripts fed-exed, all to deadlines. It is also very good for the CV if you are interested! I like doing it but it ain't for everyone!

[donnie]

there are also training/moderation days to attend.

[Rarrie]

I also do 'A' level and get about £500 - 600 for a 'session'. I have a baby but as I work part time, I find that I work mornings, have the afternoons to spend with my baby and do the marking in the evenings, when hubby looks after my DD and puts her to bed. It works well for me and I find the money is enough to buy a laptop (last year) or pay for a holiday (this year!) but the real benefit is in the experience. I've learnt so much in the last two years of marking, that I've completely re-written my last 8 years of teaching!!!

It is quite hard going as you've only got a month to mark say 300 exam essays, and they take about 10 mins each to mark, once your in the swing of it. But I'd say its worth it - so much so I've just signed up to be an examiner for my second subject (but Jan session tho).

Also, talk to your school - I found that as they benefit from my marking, they've been really good at letting me be flexible about the hours I work when marking, so that I only come in when needed.

[Rarrie]

Forgot to add, if yoy apply this year, you may not be offered any work until next. That happenned to me, and it is apparrently not uncommon!