General requirements
- Examiners must complete required child-safety induction and screening before undertaking relevant duties.
- Examiners must identify themselves professionally and explain the examination process in an age-appropriate manner.
- Interaction must remain examination-related and professional.
- An examiner must never ask a child to keep a conversation, message or event secret from a parent, carer, teacher or AGMS.
- Where a candidate is distressed, discloses harm or says they feel unsafe, the examiner must prioritise safety and follow the reporting procedure rather than attempting to investigate.
In-person examinations
- Use an approved examination room or venue assessed as reasonably safe for children.
- Where practicable, examination spaces should allow accountability without compromising examination conditions—for example, accessible premises, nearby responsible adults, or appropriate visibility arrangements.
- Parents, carers or teachers should know where the examination is taking place and how to contact the venue/AGMS if required.
- Do not lock a child into an examination room or obstruct reasonable exit.
- Physical contact should normally be avoided. If contact is genuinely necessary (for example, an immediate safety issue), use the minimum necessary and explain what is occurring.
- Do not transport a child in a private vehicle as part of AGMS duties unless expressly authorised under a separately risk-assessed arrangement.
- Do not arrange private meetings with a candidate before or after the examination outside approved AGMS processes.
Live-online examinations
- Use the platform and access method approved by AGMS.
- Where the candidate is under 18, the booking/contact process should normally involve a parent/carer, teacher or responsible adult rather than rely on private examiner-to-child contact.
- Examiners must not move communication to personal messaging apps or personal social-media accounts.
- The child should participate from an appropriate environment. AGMS may require or recommend that a responsible adult is available nearby, depending on age and circumstances.
- Recording a live examination is not permitted unless it forms part of an authorised AGMS process with appropriate notice and controls.
- If an unexpected person, image or situation creates a child-safety concern, pause or end the session if necessary and report the concern.
Recorded examinations
- Access recordings only through authorised AGMS systems or links and only for the assessment, moderation, quality assurance or authorised administrative purpose.
- Do not download or retain a candidate recording on a personal device unless expressly required by an approved AGMS process and protected appropriately.
- Do not copy, share, demonstrate or reuse candidate recordings for teaching, promotion, training or any unrelated purpose without the required authority and consent.
- Close or remove access when the authorised assessment purpose ends in accordance with AGMS information-handling requirements.
- Report accidental disclosure, unauthorised access, lost devices or misdirected links promptly as a privacy and child-safety incident.
Electronic communication
AGMS-related communication with a child should occur through official channels and, where appropriate, include or be directed through a parent/carer or teacher. Examiners must not use access gained through AGMS to develop a private relationship with a candidate.
If a child makes a disclosure
- Listen and allow the child to speak in their own words.
- Reassure the child that they did the right thing by telling someone.
- Do not promise secrecy.
- Do not ask leading or investigative questions.
- Check immediate safety only to the extent necessary.
- Record what was said, including the child’s own words where possible.
- Report immediately to the AGMS Child Safety Lead and contact emergency services where there is immediate danger.
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