THURSDAY 23rd NOVEMBER TO THURSDAY 7TH DECEMBER
The Year 11 internal examinations will be held this year between Thursday 23rd November and Thursday 7th December. Timetabled lessons for members of the Year 11 will continue as normal throughout this period, however, revision for the examinations may be permitted in these lessons as directed by teaching staff. When not in an examination, students must return to lessons as normal.
Therefore, it is essential that students bring to school each day, all resources and materials to assist them with revision and preparation for the forthcoming examinations. Students will be required to leave and return to normal timetabled lessons as necessary.
The school attaches considerable importance to these internal examinations and believes that plenty of experience of GCSE style questions is essential. These examinations represent the only opportunity your son will have of a full-scale dress rehearsal for the GCSE examinations in May/June. It is important that students have read and are fully aware of the arrangements to make the most of these examinations, see attached briefing sheet.
It is important that all students familiarise themselves with and follow all the guidance and instructions given to them in the Public Examination Handbook to avoid suspected malpractice; any attempted cheating, behavioural issues or similar that would constitute malpractice in the GCSE Examinations in Summer will be treated as such for the internals. Appropriate sanctions will be given in School and letters will be sent to parents detailing the incident and the sanction given.
In some cases, the ‘internal’ results may point to the need for a sharp intensification of effort. You will, incidentally, be formally notified of the results of these examinations through the medium of the school report issued in January. In cases where there is cause for concern, we will be in touch with you by letter after the report is issued.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR GCSE INTERNAL EXAMINATIONS
The conditions under which the Internal Examinations are conducted will, as far as possible, reflect the conditions adopted next summer. This is to prepare you for your GCSEs so that you are familiar with the examination board regulations and how public examinations are conducted.
You will be fully briefed by the Assistant Head, Mr Douglass, before these examinations and again in the summer term. Full details of examination rules and regulations are available in the most recent Public Examinations Handbook, a copy of which can be downloaded here.
KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER
1. You should arrive 10 minutes before the published start time of the examination to allow time for you to be seated (in the summer, you will need to arrive 20 minutes before). Ensure that you have been to the toilet before arriving.
2. At the beginning of each examination, you must check the seating plans, which will be posted on the notice board located on the TOP YARD. You will need to check which ROOM you have been seated in and make a note of your SEAT NUMBER.
3. Those taking examinations in the Hall should enter through the entrance on the TOP YARD in silence and must not congregate anywhere else. If you have an examination in an alternative venue, you should line up quietly outside the room and enter in silence when directed to do so by the invigilator.
4. Sit in the desk allocated to you on the seating plan (posted on the notice board on the TOP YARD)
5. Mobile phones, watches (of any kind) and any other electronic devices must not be taken into the examination room. If you do bring a mobile phone or watch and cannot leave it in your locker, you must switch it off and put it into a box as indicated by the invigilator. Please note that the mobile phone remains your responsibility. You will need to stay behind after the exam to collect it.
6. You must bring your school ID card to the examination with you and place this face up on the desk. Your ID card should state your exam number which you may need for certain examinations. If it does not, please ask your form tutor or speak to the Exams Office for the number.
7. When you enter the examination room, there can be no further communication of any kind, as any form of communication will be deemed as malpractice. There must be no writing on your hands or any notes in your possession.
8. Listen carefully to the invigilator’s instructions and make sure you understand the written instructions on the paper.
9. You must use black ink (gel pens are not permitted). Pens, pencils etc must be in a clear, transparent pencil case. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have all the correct equipment (pens, pencils, protractor, calculator, compass etc. for examinations).
10. You must stay until the end of the exam. Toilet breaks are not permitted in the first hour or last fifteen minutes (unless you have a medical reason, which has been discussed with the Exams Office prior to your exams).
11. You must observe the rules on uniform.
12. Food is not permitted in examinations. Clear bottles of water only are permitted to be brought in to the examination venue. All labels must be removed prior to the examination.
13. If you miss an examination, you must arrange an alternative session with the examination office as soon as possible, or your subject teacher if the examinations have ended.
14. Please note that failure to comply with instructions will result in your disqualification from an examination.
