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Examinations
The Examinations Officer is Mrs Carol-Anne Lale, contactable by email c.lale@ralphallenschool.com or telephone 01225 838014.
EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS SUMMER 2020 CANCELLED
Summer 2020 grades for GCSE, AS, A level and EPQ. Guidance for teachers, students, parents and carers
From Ofqual
Published 3 April 2020. Updated 16 June 2020
Letter to Students
From Ofqual
Published 3 April 2020
Further update on 2020 exams: Information on our work for awarding GCSEs, AS and A levels this summer.
From Ofqual
Published 26 March 2020
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/further-update-on-2020-exams
We are rapidly working up plans to implement the arrangements the Secretary of State for Education has set out for exams this summer and, with exam boards and teaching bodies, are making considerable progress.
Students understandably want reassurance, and teachers urgently need to know what to do, and when. We expect to publish detailed information about the process and timetable which will apply this summer next week. This will include the steps we would like teachers to follow and more detailed guidance on how to consider the full range of evidence they will have available when submitting their assessment grades. We are talking to teaching representatives to make sure that what we are planning is manageable and appropriate, so that students, parents, carers and teachers can have confidence in the approach.
We will outline by Easter the process we will follow to make sure grades are fair across schools and colleges, as well as our proposals for appeals. We will also say more as soon as possible about the arrangements for additional exams in the new academic year.
We want to reassure students waiting for news that we are doing everything we can to make sure they are not disadvantaged by these unprecedented circumstances.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020
Guidance from the Department for Education
Published 20 March 2020
Internal mock exams
Internal mock examinations will be conducted under formal examination conditions using the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) regulations in order for students to experience the expectations for external exams. Students should familiarise themselves with the information within the candidate handbook and the JCQ publications booklet both of which are issued to students via their tutors. The awarding bodies take the security and integrity of external examinations very seriously. The handbook and the JCQ booklet give students guidance on examination procedures and thereby eliminating possibilities of any suspected candidate malpractice arising in external exams which could lead to penalties and potential disqualification.
JCQ examination regulations booklet
Year 12 mocks week commencing 6 July Timetable and Year 12 candidate handbook
INFORMATION TO CANDIDATES
The following information is issued by the Joint Council for Qualifications and should be read and understood by students taking external examinations.
Information for candidates - Written Examinations
Information for candidates - Onscreen Tests
Information for candidates - Non Examination Assessment
Information to candidates - Coursework
INTERNAL APPEALS PROCEDURE
Our internal appeals procedure covering internally assessed marks and post results services has recently been updated. Internal Appeals Procedure Policy
ON EXAM DAY
Candidates must arrive on time.
Should you experience problems on your journey to any of your exams e.g. you are unwell or delayed, please contact the Exams Officer on 01225 838014. If we are unavailable to take your call please leave a message including your name and telephone number in case we need to call you back.
If you arrive late, but before the published start time, go to your exam venue. You may be asked to report to the Exam Officer if your absence has already been reported.
If you arrive after the published start time you must report to the Exam Officer in the first instance and will be taken to your exam venue.
Illness or absence
Illness and other absences must be reported to the Exams Officer prior to the exam beginning. A parent/carer must ring the Exams Officer on 01225 838014 if for any reason you are unable to attend your exam and advise her accordingly. This action should be taken before your exam takes place.
In the event of illness during your exam you must advise the Invigilator for your room at the time.
EXTERNAL EXAMINATION AND ASSESSMENTS 2019/20
Details of the courses, specification codes and awarding bodies for assessment summer 2020 are shown below.
CERTIFICATES
Your certificates are valuable documents. Valuable in the sense that replacements can cost up to £45 per certificate but also as they are proof you studied at Ralph Allen School and completed the course. This is irrespective of the grades you achieved.
If you go on to further education at any time in the future you will need to produce them. Many employers will also ask to see them. It is in your interest to collect your certificates even if you don’t think you will ever need them.
We are only obliged to keep your certificates for one year after which they will be securely destroyed. Replacements will only be available directly from the relevant awarding bodies at a cost as previously mentioned.
Previous years certificates
There is limited availability to collect previous years certificates and by prior arrangement only. Certificates will not be available during examinations or results periods. You should either;
1. Email Mrs Tooley, Examinations Assistant s.tooley@ralphallenschool.com asking to arrange collection. If you are unable to collect certificates yourself you may email Mrs Tooley with details of who you would like to collect them on your behalf. The nominated person will need to bring photo ID with them upon collection. Unfortunately if we cannot see any ID we will not be able to release your certificates.
2. Complete and return the certificate postage request form to request postage of your certificates together with a payment of £4.50 to cover the cost of recorded delivery and packaging.
I’ve lost my examination certificates, where can I get hold of copies?
You will need to contact the awarding body directly to receive a replacement certificate or certified statement of results https://www.gov.uk/replacement-exam-certificate. If you cannot remember which awarding body you took your examinations with you will need to contact each in turn to see if they have a record of you achieving a qualification with them. Please note that there is generally a charge for issuing confirmation of qualifications and you will need to be able to prove that you are the certificate holder.