Examination Officers' Association Annual Conference 2010

The 2010 EOA Annual Conference is taking place on Tuesday 6^th and Wednesday 7^th July 2010 at Wyboston Lakes Conference Centre, near Bedford.

Highlights of the conference include:-

• Dame Kelly Holmes, double Olympic Gold medallist in 2004, will be a keynote speaker, giving a highly motivational account of her experiences, demonstrating that whoever you are, you can overcome difficulties as long as you believe in yourself.

• Senior figures from politics and the education community will be taking part in a Question Time session chaired by former TES journalist Warwick Mansell. Theis will be an opportunity for exam office staff to put their questions directly to senior people. The panel will include:-
  • Barry Sheerman MP
  • Jim Sinclair of JCQ
  • John Fairhurst of ASCL
  • Isabel Nisbet of Ofqual
  • Alan Waymont Chairman of the EOA Board of Trustees
• Highly focused workshops to help you in the management of your roles in the exam office, featuring case studies and best practice, including
  • managing yourself - led by Linda Denny of Smart Coaching Company
  • managing budgets -  led by Paul Lower of Paul Lower Consulting
  • managing people - led by Julie Marsden of HR Solutions JM
  • managing behaviour - led by Eleanor Yearwood of Key Talent Partners
  • CPD - led by Jan Martin of the EOA
• Clinics with key service providers including the QCDA, Awarding Bodies and IT suppliers.
• Extensive networking opportunities with your fellow exam office staff, including a structured 'meeting' service
• EOA presentation from Andrew Harland, Chief Executive of the EOA
• Steve Sharpley of Xcell Dynamics talking on "Success is a mind game"
• Gala Dinner and Reception to celebrate TEN years of the EOA

A provisional timetable for the EOA Conference is attached here.

More details about the conference and the speakers will be posted on these pages and on the EOA website as they are confirmed. Please look on the Speakers page for more information.

 Booking your tickets

To book your place at the conference please go to the Registration page (the button at the top right of this page) and select your ticket type. There is an early bird discount of £10 per person for any member who enters the promotional code published in the EOA members newsletter. The early bird discount ends on 30th April 2010. You can make an immediate online booking and pay with a credit or debit card. Or you can book your place now online and you will be sent an invoice by email so that you can raise a cheque for payment or settle by BACS. Please ensure that you have made payment within four weeks of making your booking. EOA Members have a preferential rate. There is also a non EOA Member rate which includes a year's membership of the EOA. The ticket types are:-

• Two day delegate rate - attendance at both days of the conference, all conference materials, unlimited tea and coffee, overnight accommodation at the Wyboston Lakes Conference Centre on 6th July, lunch on both days, attendance at the Reception on 6^th July and the Gala Dinner on 6^th July, breakfast on 7^th July.
• Single day delegate rate - attendance at one day of the conference, all conference materials, unlimited tea and coffee, lunch
• Monday 5^th July night Bed & Breakfast
• Two people attending conference but sharing a room - the same package as the two day delegate rate, but sharing a twin room
• Gala dinner only
• Partner sharing room but not attending Conference, either just B & B or Gala Dinner and B & B

The final date for making a booking is Monday 31st May. Up to this date a full refund will be made in event of a cancellation. Between 31 May and 8 June 50% of the fee will be refunded in the event of a cancellation. No refund will be made after 8 June 2010. The booking can be transfered to another person up to Friday 2 July. 

Accommodation

The Robinson Executive Centre is totally self contained for the EOA Conference and accommodation will be in double or twin rooms, single occupancy, unless you have requested to share a room. All meals will be taken at the Robinson Executive Centre, where there is also a bar and lounge area.

Within the campus of the Wyboston Lakes Conference Centre, there is a gym and a swimming pool which are free for residential delegates to the conference to use. There is also a golf driving range and a lake with watersports activities. These can be pre-booked by contacting the Conference Centre if you wish to try them out www.wybostonlakes.co.uk. There is also a hotel on the campus, which is seperate from the Robinson Executive Centre, and which has a restaurant and bar overlooking the lake.

 Location and travel

• Wyboston Lakes Conference Centre is on the A1 near Bedford and has easy access by road with plenty of parking.
• The nearest train station is St Neots which is on the main line from Kings Cross to Petersborough. A shuttle mini bus will be laid on at peak times to transport delegates to and from the conference and the station at the start and end of the conference. More details about this will be available nearer to the conference.
• Details about the Wyboston Conference Centre can be seen on the Centre's website on www.wybostonlakes.co.uk

More information or help with your booking

Please contact the EOA Office if you need more information or help with your booking.

0118 975 8552 or conference@examofficers.org.uk