External Exams Timetable can be found here: External Exams Timetable 2023

Dear Parents, Carers and Students

Year 11 Exams and End of Half Term

Thank you for your support and cooperation over the first two weeks of exams. It is an incredibly busy time for everybody, and Year 11 students have been a credit to the school by helping things to run smoothly with their hard work and maturity. It has been an excellent start to the exam season.

I am writing to confirm details about Friday 26 May, the last normal day of school, and the remaining three weeks of exams after half term.

What are the plans for the last normal day of school, Friday 26 May?

On Friday 26 May, Year 11 will attend Periods 1-4 as normal unless they have an exam in the morning. At 12.40pm, Year 11 will go to their PD room to meet their tutor and then head to their House Assembly with their House Leader, where we celebrate their achievements and present awards.

After this, there will be a year group photograph, and some food and events on the school field. Year 11 will be given the opportunity to sign their shirts, take part in some sporting activities or some karaoke, and will finish at 2.00pm.

Any student who fails to follow staff instructions during this celebration period will be escorted off site to ensure the event can be enjoyed by students and staff alike.

When does Study Leave begin?

Study Leave begins from half term and will continue through the final 3 weeks of exams. That means, after finishing a morning exam, students must make their way off site via the front gate only. All other gates will be locked to ensure the site is safe during the day. The A Block servery will remain open for students to grab a snack on their way out.

Can I stay on site if I have a morning and afternoon exam?

Yes, the Main Hall will become available shortly after assembly finishes, at around 11.20am. Students who have an afternoon exam can revise in the Main Hall from 11.20am, which will be supervised by staff. Students who choose to do this must wait by the A Block servery until assembly has finished and the Main Hall has been prepared.

What are the arrangements for face-to-face revision sessions on the day of exams?

Main Hall revision sessions will continue throughout the remaining exam period. So, there will be a short, focused revision session in the Main Hall at 8.30am-9.00am for the morning exams, and at 12.30pm-1.00pm for the afternoon exams (12.00pm-12.30pm on Fridays).

These sessions will be a calm place for students to meet and do some last-minute revision, supervised by subject specific staff who will provide a short revision resource and be on hand to answer last minute questions.

For morning exams, students will make their way to exam venues at 9.00am for a 9.15am start. For afternoon exams students will make their way to exam venues at 1.15pm for a 1.30pm start.

If you enter the school site at any time other than just before 8.30am, you must use the main front gate only. All other gates will be locked at 8.30am to ensure student safety on the site. Please make sure you understand this, because otherwise you may be late for an exam if you go to a locked gate to enter the site.

How will I know the venue and seat for my exam?

Your personal exam timetable is on Edulink in the Exams section. This will show the venue and time for each exam. You have also received a paper copy of this in PD.

Please note that your seat number on Edulink and your paper exam timetable is auto-generated and will not be correct. Your correct seat number is available a few days before each exam on the noticeboard in F Block. It is a good idea to check your seat position prior to the exam, however, as long as you know your candidate number, invigilators will be able to help you find your seat.

What are the key things I need to remember about exams?

Please ensure the following:

• You know your candidate number.
• You must attend exams in full school uniform.
• You must write in black ink.
• You do not bring a watch or phone to your exam desk. Phones must be switched off and left in bags in the exam venue. Watches must be set to silent, with all alarms and notifications switched off, and must also be left in bags in the exam venue.
• You must have all equipment for exams, including a calculator where permitted, and your pencil case must be transparent.
• Drinks are permitted in exams, in a clear unlabelled container.

What support is available for revision at home?

We expect that all students have revision plans in place now, but just by way of reminder, the Exams section of the Student Portal contains:

• All dates for the summer exams.
• Revision materials for each subject.
• An editable revision schedule.

We wish all our Year 11 students continued success in their exams. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.

Kind regards

Mr Pease

Deputy Headteacher