I currently use the examination centre in Calne, Wilts but due to changes in my accompanist's life it looks like I'll need to try to arrange special visits for exams in the future as I understand that this will allow us to arrange a specific date.

My question is - how do I go about doing this? I know that some of the teacher who use this forum have special visits so I'm hoping you can let me know exactly what it involves, please. I'd also like to investigate the possility of sharing a special visit with another teacher and/or teachers, but again any suggestion on how I can do this?

Any help will be much appreciated.

Thank you.

Special Visits take place outside the normal exam period so you get to choose the date and place and only have to give a month's notice (I ususally give at least 6 weeks). You'll need a minimum of three hours' examining so joining forces with other teachers is a good plan. All you need is a decent piano and comfy room.

You will have to do your own timetable - I usually send a draft copy with my entry forms so the AB can tip off the examiner what the hours are likely to be. Once appointed the examiner contacts you directly although this may not be until only a few days before the session. The Board set out guidelines on breaks and stewarding duties but it's all common sense really.

It's a brilliant system and makes for a much more relaxed occasion. The lovely people in the Special Visits Office are great - super-helpful and always take time to talk things through if there are any problems.

Bag x

Thanks for replying so quickly. In my ignorance I didn't realise that there is a Special Visits Office, so I'll be speaking to them next.

I've only done had one special visit, but I will certainly be doing it again! The students all felt so much more relaxed singing in a familiar room. We used my lounge as a waiting room. The examiner called me a couple of weeks beforehand, and agreed a mutually convenient time to start and finish, which was different from what the board had told me, as he would like to have got back home in time for his own teaching. In the end we didn't need a steward, (although I had organised one) as the examiner cried "yoohoo!" when he was ready for the next candidate. He made me feel relaxed and said he wished more teachers would do it.
The icing on the cake - we had a SPECIALIST!!! The first time my students have EVER had a singer examine them. And what a difference in the remarks! He really understood the requirements/challenges of singers and his marks were fair. For once the remarks were appropriate to singers and were less generalist. SO helpful for future development, and reinforced what I had been telling them.
Good luck with it - I hope it works out as well for you as is did for me. I would not go back to the centre visits again if I don't have to.