External Examiner – Faculty of Education

The Faculty are currently seeking External Examiners to provide coverage of the following programmes:

• FDA Early Years Education and Leadership - Department of Early Years Education 
• MA Education (Including Specialist Modules: Inclusive Education; SEN; Understanding Mental Health; Critical Approaches to Mental Health - Department of Secondary and Further Education 
• MA Education (Early Years)- Secondary and Further Education 
• PGCE Secondary Physical Education with QTS (11-16) - Secondary and Further Education 
• PGCE Secondary History with QTS (11-16) - Secondary and Further Education

Eligibility Criteria

External examiners are typically academic staff of other UK HEIs and are academically qualified to at least the level of the qualification in the subject to be examined.

Individuals seeking to become external examiners of the University are expected to demonstrate appropriate evidence of:

1. Competence and experience in the fields covered by the module/ programme of study to which they will be assigned.

2. Sufficient standing, credibility and breadth of experience within their discipline to be able to command the respect of academic and, where appropriate, other professional peers.

3. Knowledge and understanding of the UK sector agreed reference points for the setting and maintenance of academic standards (FHEQ, Degree Characteristics Statements and Subject Benchmark Statements) and familiarity with the standard to

be expected of students in relation to their award.

4. Knowledge and understanding of the standards and/or requirements of Professional and Statutory Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs) that govern students’ awards (where applicable).

5. Awareness of current developments in the design and delivery of programmes in their subject including competence in and experience of designing and managing assessment.

6. Current employment status including eligibility to work in the United Kingdom and (where relevant) PSRB registration.

7. Fluency in the English language.

Individuals without previous experience will normally join an experienced team of examiners and will be mentored by an experienced examiner in the same or cognate subject area.

Role

The main responsibility of an External Examiners is to confirm that academic standards are appropriately set and maintained and therefore, their principal duties are to:

• Review and approve examination papers in a timely manner that contribute to a student’s final award and any other assessment material as agreed between the examiner and the programme team.
• Review and approve the content, learning outcomes and assessment of negotiated learning modules leading to the award of Student-Initiated Credit.
• Review samples of work that have been marked and internally moderated in order to be satisfied that students have been graded fairly through the use of marking criteria and in accordance with the University’s Academic Regulations.
• Produce a comprehensive Annual Report that covers a range of considerations including confirmation whether national threshold standards are being met or exceeded and that students have achieved the intended learning outcomes for the award of credit and qualifications.

Whilst the majority of work undertaken will be carried out remotely, External Examiners may be required to attend assessment boards at the Ormskirk Campus and school visits on an annual basis.

Salary Details

External examiners are paid an annual fee of approximately £620.31 (inclusive of holiday pay) based on the time allocations defined below plus reimbursement of expenses, as appropriate. Total fees may vary slightly dependent on the size of the provision covered by an External Examiner. The production and submission of the annual report is paid at a higher rate of £200 for the full 7.5 hours work.

The table below shows the typical duties an external examiner may undertake, and the approximate hours allocated for each activity:

 These figures are correct as of *October 2024*.

Details of how to apply

Please send your CV to [email removed]

If you have any queries regarding the role, please email [email removed] in the first instance.

Please note that all external examiner vacancies may also be advertised on additional recruitment platforms by the relevant departments. 

Closing Date: 03 Apr 2025

Department: External Examiner