Carmel RC College Exam Policy
Contents | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. |
|
|
2. |
|
|
3. |
|
|
4. |
|
|
5. |
|
|
6. |
The
Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), special needs and access
arrangements |
|
7. |
|
|
8. |
|
|
9. |
|
|
10. |
|
|
11. |
Results,
enquiries about results (EARs) and access to scripts
(ATS) |
|
12. |
|
The purpose
of this exam policy is:
·
to ensure the planning and
management of exams is conducted efficiently and in the best interest of
candidates
·
to ensure the operation of an
efficient exam system with clear guidelines for all relevant
staff.
It is the responsibility of
everyone involved in the centre’s exam processes to read, understand and
implement this policy.
This exam policy will be
reviewed annually.
This exam policy will be
reviewed by the head of centre, SLT, curriculum leaders and the exams
officer.
1. Exam
responsibilities
Overall
responsibility for the college as an exam centre:
·
the head of centre is
responsible for reporting all suspicions or actual incidents of malpractice.
Refer to the JCQ document Suspected malpractice in examinations and
assessments.
Exams office manager
Manages the
administration of public and internal exams and analysis of exam
results:
·
advises the SLT, curriculum
leaders, subject teachers and other relevant support staff on annual exam
timetables and application procedures as set by the various exam
boards
·
oversees the production and
distribution to staff, governors and candidates of an annual calendar for all
exams in which candidates will be involved and communicates regularly with staff
concerning imminent deadlines and events
·
ensures that candidates and
their parents are informed of and understand those aspects of the exam timetable
that will affect them
·
consults with teaching staff
to ensure that necessary coursework is completed on time and in accordance with
JCQ guidelines
·
provides and confirms
detailed data on estimated entries
·
receives, checks and stores
securely all exam papers and completed scripts
·
administers access
arrangements and makes applications for special consideration using the JCQ
Access arrangements and special considerations regulations and
Guidance relating to candidates who are eligible for adjustments in
examinations
·
identifies and manages exam
timetable clashes
·
accounts for income and
outgoings relating to all exam costs/charges
·
line manages the senior exams
invigilator in organising the recruitment, training and monitoring of a team of
exams invigilators responsible for the conduct of exams
·
assists with the preparing of
reports for the SLT showing results achieved in relation to expected grades and
comparable data for previous years, indicating where future procedural
improvements might be made
·
submits candidates’
coursework marks, tracks despatch and stores returned coursework and any other
material required by the appropriate awarding bodies correctly and on
schedule
·
arranges for dissemination of
exam results and certificates to candidates and forwards, in consultation with
the SLT, any appeals/re-mark requests
·
maintains systems and
processes to support the timely entry of candidates for their
exams.
Deputy head
·
Guidance and pastoral
oversight of candidates who are unsure about exam entries or amendments to
entries.
Curriculum
leaders
·
Guidance and pastoral
oversight of candidates who are unsure about exam entries or amendments to
entries.
·
Involvement in post-results
procedures.
·
Accurate completion of
coursework mark sheets and declaration sheets.
·
Accurate completion of entry
and all other mark sheets and adherence to deadlines as set by the exams
officer.
Head of careers
·
Guidance and careers
information.
Teachers
·
Submission of candidate names
to heads of department.
SENCO
·
Administration of access
arrangements.
·
Identification and testing of
candidates’ requirements for access arrangements.
·
Provision of additional
support — with spelling, reading, mathematics, dyslexia or essential skills,
hearing impairment, English for speakers of other languages, IT equipment — to
help learners achieve their course aims.
Lead
invigilator/invigilators
·
Collection of exam papers and
other material from the exams office before the start of the
exam.
·
Collection of all exam papers
in the correct order at the end of the exam and their return to the exams
office.
Candidates
·
Confirmation and signing of
entries.
·
Understanding coursework
regulations and signing a declaration that authenticates the coursework as their
own.
Administrative staff
2. The statutory
tests and qualifications offered
The statutory tests and
qualifications offered at this centre are decided by the head of centre,
curriculum leaders and the heads of sixth form.
The statutory tests and
qualifications offered are GCSE, A levels, BTEC, National and
Vocational.
The subjects offered for these qualifications in any academic
year may be found in the centre’s published prospectus for that year. If there
has been a change of syllabus from the previous year, the exams office must be
informed by 01/07/2007.
At key stage
3
All candidates will take
English, mathematics and science. The school will consider the use of
intervention or booster strategies in connection with any candidates who are
unlikely to attain the minimum level.
Decisions on whether candidates
should not take an individual subject or all NCTs will be taken in consultation
with the candidates, parents/carers, subject teachers and the deputy
head.
At key stage
4
All candidates will be
entitled, and enabled, to achieve an entry for qualifications from an external
awarding body.
At post-16
It
is expected that AS modules will be completed during year 12. A2 modules will be completed during year
13.
3. Exam seasons and
timetables
Internal exams (year 11
MOCKS) are scheduled in December and internal tests at end of every half
term.
External exams are scheduled
in November, January and April/May/June.
All internal exams (MOCKS) are
held under strict external exam conditions.
Which exam series are used in
the centre is decided by the curriculum leaders.
3.2
Timetables
The exams officer will
circulate the exam timetables for both external and internal exams once these
are confirmed.
4. Entries, entry
details, late entries and retakes
Candidates are selected for
their exam entries by the subject teachers.
Upon consultation with
pastoral leaders, curriculum leaders and subject teachers a candidate or
parent/carer can request a subject entry, change of level or
withdrawal.
The centre accepts entries
from external candidates.
4.2 Late
entries
Entry deadlines are
circulated to heads of department via email.
Late entries are authorised
by curriculum leaders and exams officer.
4.3
Retakes
Candidates are
allowed 2 retakes per subject in GCSE.
Candidates are allowed 2 retakes per
subject in AS.
Candidates are allowed 1 retake per subject in
A2.
Retake decisions will be made in consultation with the candidates,
subject teachers, head of post-16 and the exams officer.
(See also
section 5: Exam fees)
5. Exam
fees
GCSE initial registration and
entry exam fees are paid by the centre.
AS initial registration and entry
exam fees are paid by the centre.
A2 initial registration and entry exam
fees are paid by the centre.
Late entry or amendment fees are paid by the
departments.
Candidates or departments will not be charged for changes of
tier, withdrawals made by the proper procedures or alterations arising from
administrative processes, provided these are made within the time allowed by the
awarding bodies.
Reimbursement will be sought from candidates who fail to
sit an exam or meet the necessary coursework requirements.
This fees
reimbursement policy will be communicated in writing to candidates and
parents/carers at the start of GCSE and post-16 courses.
Retake fees for
first and any subsequent retakes are paid by the candidates.
(See also
section 4.3: Retakes)
Candidates must pay the fee for an enquiry about a
result, should the centre not uphold the enquiry and the candidate insist on
pursuing the enquiry.
(See also section 11.2: Enquiries about results
[EARs])
6. The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), special needs and
access arrangements
The Disability
Discrimination Act 2005 extends the application of the DDA to general
qualifications. All exam centre staff must ensure that the access arrangements
and special consideration regulations and guidance are consistent with the law.
6.2 Special
needs
A candidate’s special needs
requirements are determined by the SENCO and the educational psychologist /
specialist teacher.
The SENCO will inform subject teachers of candidates
with special educational needs who are embarking on a course leading to an exam.
The SENCO can then inform individual staff of any special arrangements that
individual candidates may be granted during the course and in the
exam.
6.3 Access
arrangements
Making special arrangements
for candidates to take exams is the responsibility of the
SENCO.
Submitting completed access arrangement applications to the
awarding bodies is the responsibility of the exams officer.
Rooming for
access arrangement candidates will be arranged by the exams officer with the
SENCO.
Invigilation and support for access arrangement candidates will be
organised by the SENCO with the exams officer.
7. Estimated
grades
The curriculum
leaders will submit estimated grades to the exams officer when requested by the
exams officer.
8. Managing
invigilators and exam days
External invigilators will be
used for exam supervision.
They will be used for all external exams and
mocks.
The recruitment of invigilators is the responsibility of the
senior leaders and examinations officer.
Securing the necessary Criminal
Records Bureau (CRB) clearance for new invigilators is the responsibility of the
college business manager.
CRB fees for securing such clearance are paid
by the centre.
Invigilators are trained, timetabled and briefed by the
exams office.
Invigilators’ rates of pay are set by the Darlington
Borough Council.
8.2 Exam
days
The exams officer will book
all exam rooms after liaison with other users and make the question papers,
other exam stationery and materials available for the invigilator.
Site
supervisor is responsible for setting up the allocated rooms.
The exams
officer will start all exams in accordance with JCQ guidelines.
Subject
staff may be present at the start of the exam to assist with queries on entries
but must not advise on which questions are to be attempted.
In practical
exams subject teachers may be on hand in case of any technical
difficulties.
Exam papers must not be read by subject teachers or removed
from the exam room before the end of a session. Papers will be distributed to
curriculum leaders at the end of the exam session.
9. Candidates,
clash candidates and special consideration
The centre’s published rules
on acceptable dress, behaviour and candidates’ use of mobile phones and all
electronic devices apply at all times.
Candidates’ personal belongings
remain their own responsibility and the centre accepts no liability for their
loss or damage.
Disruptive candidates are dealt with in accordance with
JCQ guidelines.
Candidates may leave the exam room for a genuine purpose
requiring an immediate return to the exam room, in which case a member of staff
must accompany them.
The exams officer/centre administration staff will
attempt to contact any candidate who is not present at the start of an
exam. The exams officer will deal
with them in accordance with JCQ guidelines.
9.2 Clash
candidates
The exams officer will be
responsible as necessary for identifying escorts, identifying a secure venue and
arranging overnight stays.
9.3 Special
consideration
Should a candidate
be too ill to sit an exam, suffer bereavement or other trauma or be taken ill
during the exam itself, it is the candidate’s responsibility to alert the
centre, or the exam invigilator, to that effect.
Any special
consideration claim must be supported by appropriate evidence within five days
of the exam, for example a letter from the candidate’s doctor.
The exams
officer will then forward a completed special consideration form along with the
evidence gained to the relevant awarding body within seven days of the exam.
10. Coursework and
appeals against internal assessments
Candidates who have to
prepare portfolios should do so by the end of the course or centre-defined
date.
Curriculum leaders will ensure all coursework is ready for despatch
at the correct time and the exams officer will keep a record of what has been
sent when and to whom.
Marks for all internally assessed work are
provided to the exams office by the subject teachers.
10.2 Appeals against internal
assessments
The centre is obliged to
publish a separate procedure on this subject, which is available from the exams
office.
The main points are:
·
appeals will only be entertained if
they apply to the process leading to an assessment. There is no appeal against
the mark or grade awarded
·
candidates may appeal if they feel
their coursework has been assessed unfairly, inconsistently or not in accordance
with the specification for the qualification
·
appeals should be made in writing by
30 June to the head of centre who will decide whether the process used conformed
to the necessary requirements
·
the head of centre’s findings
will be notified in writing, copied to the exams officer and recorded for
awarding body inspection.
11. Results,
enquiries about results (EARs) and access to scripts
(ATS)
Candidates will receive
individual results slips on results days in person at the centre or by post to
their home addresses (candidates to provide sae).
Arrangements for the
school to be open on results days are made by the SLT.
The provision of
staff on results days is the responsibility of the SLT.
The centre
aggregates at the end of year 12 for AS grades and end of year 13 for A2
grades.
11.2 EARs (enquiry about
results)
EARs may be requested by
centre staff or candidates if there are reasonable grounds for believing there
has been an error in marking.
When the centre does not uphold an EAR, a
candidate may apply to have an enquiry carried out. If a candidate requires this
against the advice of subject staff, they will be charged.
(See section 5:
Exam fees)
11.3 ATS (access to
scripts)
After the release
of results, candidates may ask subject staff to request the return of papers
within three days’ scrutiny of the results.
If a result is queried, the
curriculum deputy, exams officer and teaching staff will investigate the
feasibility of asking for a re-mark at the centre’s expense.
Centre staff
may also request scripts for investigation or for teaching purposes. For the
latter, the consent of candidates must be obtained.
GCSE re-marks cannot
be applied for once a script has been returned.
12.
Certificates
Certificates are presented in
person at presentation evening; they can also be collected and signed for after
presentation evening.
Certificates may be collected on behalf of a
candidate by a third party, provided they have been authorised to do so with
written consent.
The centre retains certificates until they collected and
signed for.
