Download Year 11 study support sessions for 2023 from this page - see Related documents
Exams are held throughout the year, with the main exam season for GCSEs and A Levels being in May and June. All exams are held at our Heversham site.
Exam season is time for all the hard work, revision and practising to be put into action. To help ensure all goes as smoothly as possible please refer to this page for the following important and useful information – click on highlighted text for downloads:
- Being clear on what equipment is not allowed in exams: Warning to candidates and Unauthorised items
- Information on taking written exams
- Information for non-examination assessments
- Information for taking on-screen tests
- Information on coursework assessment
- Calculators guidance
- Using social media in relation to exams and assessments
- Privacy notice on how your personal information will be used by the exam awarding bodies.
- Preparing for your exams checklist
- Exam day FAQs
Remember that as well as the main exam season, students may have exams at other times of the year, including November, January/February and March.
Controlled assessments and coursework are also very important parts of courses and the examination process. These are held at various times throughout the academic year, depending on which subjects you are studying.
If you have any questions regarding your assessments and exams please contact our exams officers at exams@dallamschool.co.uk
Exam dates
Important NEA coursework components for this academic year’s BTECs, GCSE and A Level exams take place throughout the school year. This includes: Geography, Language speaking exams, Art, Music, Drama, Hospitality & Catering, P.E., English, Criminology, and BTEC units in Media, Health & Social Care and Enterprise.
Attendance at school for all these assessments is very important as the student cannot achieve a result in the Summer unless the NEA/coursework assessment is completed. Attendance for all assessments and exams, including mocks is compulsory.
Timetables for coursework and internal assessments are issued by the subject teacher in class. Timetables for external and mock GCSE and A Level exams are issued to students in advance of the exam session.
Coping with exam stress
Exam time can be stressful, no matter how well prepared a student feels. Here are a couple of website pages that you or your child may find useful.
Access arrangements for formal examinations
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What are Access Arrangements for formal examinations?
Access Arrangements are adjustments that are made before the exams. They are based on need and must reflect a child’s normal way of working. If a student has an identified learning need he or she is disadvantaged in comparison to other students of similar ability, he or she may qualify for access arrangements. They must also meet the requirements of assessments held within school.
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What happens before we assess?
Throughout Years 7, 8 and 9 we may trial various strategies and conduct a number of different tests and assessments in order to make sure that we are not only meeting the criteria but that we can work out what might be the best provision for your child.
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When will we assess?
At the end of Year 9/start of Year 10. The SENDCo will then write to the students and parents/carers to confirm any Access Arrangements that the candidate will have.
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Who will make the decision on whether a child gets Access Arrangements?
The SENDCO and SLT will ultimately decide that a child may not meet access arrangements requirements. We have to stick strictly to regulations. If we allocate children access who do not meet this then the outcome could be the removal of a centre’s registration.
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What medical information is required?
We require parents to provide any medical information that may impact access to exams by the end of February in Year 10. This cannot be a GP letter, this is for children under a consultant/specialist.
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Children with EHCP/disability that has been diagnosed by a consultant
It is important to note that if a child has an EHCP or has been diagnosed under a consultant this does not necessarily mean that the child will automatically get 25% extra time. This is determined on their normal way of working in class and if they have a specific cognitive and learning need. For example, it may be that their need is more social and emotional or sensory and that a centre designated arrangement such as rest breaks or working in a smaller environment is what is needed.
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Temporary injury or illness
If a child is otherwise in good health and then, for example, break their arm just before exam season, access arrangements will be made to minimise the impact of the temporary condition. We will require medical evidence to apply for the exam period.