Security update - August 2026

Invigilation of exams focus 

Responsibility

It is the responsibility of the head of centre to ensure that invigilators are appropriately trained in their duties.

Centres must make sure that invigilators know what is expected of them.

Centres must provide thorough training on the current JCQ regulations for all invigilators.

The JCQ regulations are updated annually.  It is the centre’s responsibility to make sure invigilators are made aware of any changes to the regulations.  

When contracting supply staff to act as invigilators, the head of centre must ensure that they are competent, fully trained and understand what is and what is not permissible. An assurance from a recruitment agency, for example, would not be sufficient.  If any concerns are identified with the invigilation of the exam, any necessary action will be taken with/against the centre, not the third party organisation.

All invigilators must be asked to declare whether they have invigilated previously and whether they have any current maladministration or malpractice sanctions applied to them. This will allow the head of centre to be satisfied that the person is a competent invigilator of examinations.

Training

A record of the content of the training given to invigilators must be available for inspection and retained on file.  A document/certificate simply stating that ‘invigilation training’ has been completed is not sufficient.

Centres must ensure that the testing of the invigilators’ competence and their understanding of the JCQ regulations is rigorous.

Your training and briefing sessions for invigilators should cover:

• The invigilator’s role
• Your centre’s arrangements e.g. exam contingency plan; emergency evacuation procedures
• Invigilation arrangements e.g. who to contact should an incident occur; the arrangements for dealing with disruptive candidates; arrangements for storing unauthorised items that may be handed in prior to the start of an examination
• Invigilation arrangements for candidates with access arrangements
• Setting up the examination room e.g. a digital and/or analogue clock must be in the room and must be visible to all candidates.  A count down timer is not acceptable.
• Identifying candidates (see the Security Centre Management Handbook for the requirements for learner identification for Security courses)
• Starting the examination e.g. seating plan; arrangements if a candidate arrives late for an examination
• During the examination
• Leaving the examination room
• Finishing the examination e.g. give a 5-minute warning before the end of the examination
  

The JCQ Invigilation training checklist is a useful tool to ensure that your training is thorough and covers all the requirements.

View the JCQ Invigilation training checklist

Who can be an invigilator?

All invigilators must be:

• Suitably qualified (trained) and experienced adults (i.e. over the age of 18)

Invigilators must not be:

• A current student at the centre
• A tutor/trainer/assessor of any of the candidates sitting the exam
• A relative, friend or peer of any of the candidates sitting the exam
• The Test Manager

What is the difference between the Test Manager and the Invigilator?

The Test Manager is the person responsible for test security, maintaining the security of the test papers and ensuring that the testing procedures are followed.  This includes, for example, making sure that secure storage room doors and secure storage facilities are not left unlocked.

Invigilators are the people in the examination room responsible for conducting the examination in the presence of the candidates.

Both the Test Manager and the Invigilator must be present at the centre for the examination.

A contact number for the Test Manager must be provided on the test notification form that you submit to Pearson.  The Test Manager must be contactable on the day of the examination. 

What to do if you suspect malpractice

If an invigilator suspects candidate malpractice, they should report this to the head of centre.

The head of centre must report to Pearson all cases of alleged, suspected or actual malpractice in connection with the examination using the relevant JCQ malpractice forms.

In cases of suspected malpractice, all test answer sheets must be packed and returned to Pearson as normal, along with the relevant JCQ M1 or M2 form.  

Other updates

Exams Officers

All centres must have someone identified as the Exams Officer in EOL.

The email address for the Exams Officer must be from the official centre domain.  We do not accept public domain email addresses from free-to-use service providers such as Hotmail, Gmail or Yahoo, and we do not accept general queries mailboxes such as info@ or enquiry@ for Exams Officers.

English language assessments

Learners must be assessed on their ability to read, write, speak and listen in English.  The assessments must be marked before the Security course is due to start, and must be passed before the learner is enrolled onto the Security course and permitted to start security training. 

The full details about the minimum English language requirements that learners must be able to demonstrate can be found in the Security Centre Management Handbook.

If a learner does not pass the language assessment, they should be directed to undertake additional learning to develop these skills so that they meet the minimum requirements before they start the Security course.  They should be reassessed by you to confirm they meet the requirements before you enrol them onto the Security course.

You are required to retain records of all learners’ English assessments in reading, writing, speaking and listening with the other assessment documentation for a period of 3 years after certification.

Video assessments

A reminder that where practical assessments are video recorded:

• Learners should clearly state their name and the date at the start of the video recording
• The Q&A session for the physical intervention unit should be recorded
• The video evidence should be appropriately named/ labelled
• The video evidence must be retained for a period of 1 year after certification
  

SIA qualification review consultation

The SIA is consulting on proposed changes to its licence-linked qualifications and its policies on training.  They are seeking views on:

• Changes to their knowledge and skills specifications
• Introduction of a new licence condition that requires close protection operatives, door supervisors and security guards to always hold a valid first aid certificate
• Licence integration 
• If trainers should be required to hold an SIA licence for the sectors they are teaching
• Changing how learners demonstrate the necessary level of English language skills
  

All of the documents containing the details of the changes they are proposing, as well as the link to respond to the consultation online, are available on the government website.   

Proposed changes to SIA licence-linked qualifications

We strongly encourage you to review the documents and complete the consultation.  The consultation closes at 11.59pm on 23 October 2026.