Examination Guide

This document contains important information about your GCSE examinations this summer. The exams will start on 12 May and run for a period of six weeks.
It is the responsibility of all students to understand the exam regulations so please familiarise yourself with this document. If you have any questions ask your
tutor or the exams officer.
General
A national exam schedule is published giving the set dates and times for all exams. The core subjects of M aths, English and Science are taken by all students.
The dates for these exams are as follows:
GCSE Core Subject
Exam Dates
Subject Exam Date Session Duration
Maths Paper 1 16 May 2025 AM 01:30
Maths Paper 2 11 June 2025 AM 01:30
Maths Paper 3 14 June 2025 AM 01:30
Business Unit 1 14 May 2025 PM 01:45
English Language Paper 1 03 June 2025 AM 01:45
English Language Paper 2 10 June 2025 AM 01:45
English Literature Paper 1 14 May 2025 AM 01:45
English Literature Paper 2 21 May 2025 AM 02:15
Combined Science Paper 1 13 May 2025 AM 01:15
Combined Science Paper 2 06 June 2025 PM 01:15
Combined Science Paper 3 12 June 2025 AM 01:15
All students will be issued with a personalised candidate timetable. This will contain a unique four-digit candidate number which must be written on the front
cover of all question papers. The timetable will detail each written examination paper you have been entered for, the start time, duration and location of the
exam. Occasionally some subjects are timetabled at the same time on the same day. If you have a timetable clash we will discuss this with you. You can decide
the order you sit the exams, and the time and duration of any supervised rest breaks between papers. Your personalised timetable will detail the rescheduled
exams and the supervision arrangements for the day.
The main exam room is the Assembly Hall. Seating plans are displayed outside the exam room. The seating plans are organised by candidate number and
students will be called into the exam room in that order. Each desk will have a card showing your name, photograph and exam number. Under no
circumstances should you change places or sit at a desk that does not have your identification details. Take time before every exam to study the seating plan as
you will not always be in the same seat. Students with extra time and those using word processors will be sat in a separate area of the hall to keep disruption to
a minimum. Students with access arrangements which require separate accommodation will be located in suitable classrooms throughout the school. For
onscreen exams the ICT rooms are used.
Attendance
Students must be on time for all exams. Morning exams will start at 09:00 hours and afternoon exams at 13:00 hours. The only exception to this is timetable
deviations caused by subject clashes which will be detailed on your personalised timetable. If you are delayed arriving at school and are likely to be late for an
exam you must notify the school as soon as possible. The school will contact the parents or guardians of any students missing from an exam unless
notification has been received. On arrival you must report to reception and be escorted to the timetabled exam room. You will be seated at the back of the
room and given the full time for the examination. Students will be considered very late if they arrive more than an hour after the published start time. A ny
students that are admitted very late to an exam room must be reported to the exam board and their work may not be accepted or marked. If you are going to be
absent from an exam due to illness, please contact the exams office as soon as possible to determine the best course of action.
Exam Room
Students must wait quietly outside the examination room 15 minutes before the start time. You are under exam conditions as soon as you enter the exam room
and must follow the instructions of the invigilator. If you have any questions raise your hand and speak to an invigilator. The following items are prohibited
from the exam room:
mobile phones
iPods
music/video devices
all watches
web enabled electronic devices.
Possession of unauthorised items is a serious offence and may result in disqualification from that exam, the whole subject or the entire exam season. You must
ensure that all your pockets are empty before entering the exam room. Invigilators will conduct random checks for prohibited items and the school reserves the
right to challenge individuals to empty pockets if we feel it necessary. A final warning will be given at the start of each exam and any unauthorised items still
in your possession must be handed to an invigilator. No food or drink is allowed in the exam room unless prior approval has been given for medical reasons.
You may have still water in a small, clear plastic bottle with all labels removed. Water in any other type of container will be confiscated. Any pencil cases
taken into the exam room must be see-through. The use of correcting tape, erasable pens, highlighters or gel pens must not be used in your answers.
Students will not be allowed to leave the exam room until the end of the scheduled duration for that exam. If you leave the exam room unaccompanied by an
invigilator before the exam has finished, you will not be allowed to return. You must remain silent whilst the question papers are being collected. All
examination materials must be left in the exam room. Students with timetable clashes must wait to be escorted to a supervised room; on no account should
they leave the exam room unsupervised between exams.
Special Arrangements
Special provision is made for students with disabilities, medical conditions or specific educational needs. Access arrangements can include extra time,
accessible accommodation, rest breaks or the use of assistive technology. These requirements are based on evidence of need and must be the student’s normal
way of working. Applications must be submitted supported by a formal assessment report by a qualified assessor and a portfolio of evidence.
Students can be affected by unexpected physical and emotional issues during the exam period. This can have a detrimental effect on their exam performance.
If you are disadvantaged at the time of taking an exam due to illness, temporary injury or adverse circumstances an application can be made for special
consideration. This is a post-examination adjustment which must be applied for through the school office. Only minor adjustments are possible and the
awarding body will decide whether to approve this based on the evidence provided.
Results day will be held on Thursday 14 August 2025. Your results will be available for collection from the main reception between 08:00 hours and 11:00
hours. There will be staff available if you need support or guidance after receiving your results. Results are legal documents that must be collected by the
named student. It is expected that students will collect their results in person but if they are unable to do so they may nominate another person to do this on
their behalf, or request the results be sent by email or post. Parents can only collect results for their children if they have been nominated in advance. Click the
Results Nomination Form to download the authorisation form. Completed forms must be returned to the school office by 30 June. Forms received by email
will only be actioned if received directly from the student’s school email account.