Hi,

Unfortunately during my time at Southampton Uni, checking I do not have any devices in my ears under my headscarf has been poorly managed.

To make it clear, I am more than happy for a female invigilator to check under my headscarf that my ears do not have any devices in them. It makes me feel a lot more assured that I won't be falsely accussed of cheating.

But the implementation of these checks are so poorly excecuted.

Some invigilators do not ask at all to check.
Sometimes they will send more than one person at different times to check (even though I've already been checked earlier by someone else).
Sometimes they send someone during the exam itself (which I think is ridiculous, as it eats into the time and focus of the student taking the exam). 

After being asked during one exam, the next exam I decided to get a female invigilator to check for me, so I would (hopefully) not be disturbed during the exam.
The female invigilator was very awkward about the matter, insisting that she didn't need to check and she "trusted me" (this isn't a matter of trust, it should be standard policy to check). I said if she felt uncomfortable, could she ask some other female to check instead. After that she did check my ears and the matter was concluded.

In short I feel this whole process should be implemented consistently, and the process should be streamlined.

- The check itself just involves the headscarf being removed slightly away from the ears, so the invigilator can just see their ear and see there is nothing inside. I can do this at my desk as I just wear a headscarf, but other ladies who wear heavier clothing should be allowed to do so in another room, if they request a seperate place to be checked.

- Female invigilators should be the only ones allowed to conduct these checks. I thankfully have not been approached by a male invigilator to do such checks, but in training this should be made clear.

- The check should be done as soon as possible, and most certainly not during the exam time.

- The check should be done by female invigilators who are comfortable with checking. Convincing a female invigilator to check your ears is beyond awkward and bothersome. 

- It should be noted when a student is checked, so that a) they are not bothered again by someone else checking and b) so that there is evidence that they were checked and no one can accuse them afterwards (should such an accusation take place).

For reference my degree is in Computer Science, it may be the case that other departments do not have this issue with checking.

I'd like to see these changes implemented as soon as possible, and all these issues ironed out before our exams in the Summer.
 

Many thanks in advance.