Exams
During the summer term all KS3 will begin their Summer Assessment phase in lessons across all their subjects. These assessments will be conducted in lesson time. If applicable, students will have all access arrangements provided. Dates TBC.
Q. What will we do with the information?
The information from these assessments will help us:
· find any gaps in student’s KS3 knowledge and skills;
· put support in place and ensure students catch up quickly and can access all of your lessons.
Q. Where will the be conducted?
· Whole cohort tests will be conducted in either the Assembly Hall or the Aspire building.
Q. How will they be conducted?
· In exam conditions – Heads of Year and form tutor will be explained these to students prior to the assessment so they are aware of the expectations.
· Invigilators will re-explained them at the beginning of each assessment.
Q. What is a GL Assessment?
· These are a more general curriculum test (than those in lessons) are used at the end of the year to measure progress. The results are set against national averages so we can compare students results with those of students across the country.
Q. What is a PASS test?
· A PASS test helps us understanding social and emotional wellbeing. It also connects to a range of interventions and guidance so we can support students to better access your lessons. It is a short test that takes just 20 minutes to complete.
Q. What will I do after the PASS test?
· We will also ask students some questions about their health, their knowledge about how to keep themselves safe and their views on some areas of the academy. This information guides us in how we can improve their time in the academy.
Q. What is a NGRT test?
· The New Group Reading Test (NGRT) is a standardised assessment to measure reading skills. Through a variety of exercises, NGRT assesses students’ knowledge of phonics, comprehension, decoding ability, vocabulary, grammatical knowledge, deduction and inference skills, authorial intent, and ability to deal with figurative and idiomatic language. Tasks include sentence completion, passage comprehension and phonic exercises. NGRT tests not only students’ ability to decode what they read, but also to comprehend and apply meaning.
Q. Why is my reading age important?
· Children who are weaker readers will struggle as much in maths and science at GCSE as they do in English and in arts subjects. There is a significant connection between reading ability and success in all GCSE subjects, the link between good reading and good grades is actually higher in maths than in some arts subjects like English literature and history. The more demanding GCSE exams introduced in 2017 now include wordier questions which prove problematic for students with a low reading age.
Year 10 students are now entering a very important phase of their education. During the summer term, they will be completing their Summer Assessments across their lessons, during a week of mock exams and a series of practical exams. Dates TBC.
To prepare for the mock exam series we will running the following support sessions/activities:
Form Time Revision
The Year team has put together a package of revision linked to their assessments and students will also be taught how to use their Knowledge Organisers through the Denes Desirables which are a set of study skills we have been using this year (inc Mind Dumps, Quizzes and Collective Memory strategies).
P6 and Study Hall 3:10pm – 4:10pm
Some departments are running Period 6 sessions, which are revision sessions at the end of the school day. For those who are unable to attend due to other commitments, the work will be provided to students for completion at home for revision. Furthermore, the Study Hall will continue to be run by the Raising Achievement Mentors. Students will be provided with a resource booklet to use in coordination with the knowledge organisers or any other revision provided by the curriculum areas.
Q. How can I support my child at home?
From the start of the academic year, we have taught our Year 10 a range of revision strategies focusing on the use of their Knowledge Organisers through the Denes Desirables (Mind Dumps, Quizzes and Collective Memory strategies). I have included guidance on these strategies within this letter. These are effective strategies your child can use both in Study Hall at the end of the school day, or at home to support their revision for these examinations. Please encourage your child to use these along with the other revision resources signposted by their teacher. If your child has any doubt as to the content covered by the examinations, then please contact the curriculum leader of the relevant subject.
Q. Is attendance at the exams compulsory?
Yes. Attendance for these examinations is compulsory. However, if your child is ill, please contact the attendance team in the morning as a matter of urgency. All students are expected to come fully prepared to sit the examination. All examination regulations set out by the JCQ in relation to mobile phones, watches, all other electronic devices and conduct must be adhered to, or students will be removed from the exam and risk failing the examination or be refused entry to subsequent examinations at the academy.
Q. My child is finding the examinations stressful – what can I do to help?
We understand that examinations are stressful and can cause anxiety for some students. There is help, support and guidance available in the academy and on the school website, covering how to revise and how to deal with common feelings of stress and anxiety. We continue to support your child through our ongoing programme of tutor time activities and the assembly programme. We are also looking at bringing in external mental health support to speak to students about strategies they can use when managing exam stress and anxiety. If you have further questions or require clarification on any of the details in this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me or any member of the Year 10 team.
The summer examinations will start in late April exact dates TBC. Students will be provided with their own personalised timetable of their exams.
From the beginning of the GCSE period, we will be running a booster and pre-exam timetable for our Year 11 students to ensure they are fully prepared for these important examinations.
All Year 11s will be required in the academy until the end of the examination series.
This will follow the same format we have used during the recent mock exams:
We will run a high-quality booster session the day before all examinations.
If the exam is in the morning (9.30am start), we will:
- Run our exam breakfast from 8.00am in the Entrance Hall with subject teachers and raising achievement mentors. This is an important part of their preparations to ensure they are early to school; settle any last-minute nerves and ensure they have had an adequate breakfast.
- From 8:30am, they will have a 50-minute pre-examination session with their teacher before taking the examination.
If the exam is in the afternoon (1.30pm start), we will:
- Run a 60-minute pre-examination session, provide an early lunch and a final 30-minute pre-examination session with their teacher before taking the examination.
- We will also increase the amount of revision sessions for students who require extra support secure the grades required for college entry.
Please see below for the full booster and pre-exam timetable.
Yellow session: students will either be in normal lesson with their class teacher directing the lesson/revision or be completing targeted revision in lesson where they have finished the course and/or completed all their exams.
Green session: Booster (day before) or pre exam sessions (on the day of the exam).
Red session: the actual exam.
Where students are required to prepare for two exams, we have made all attempts to provide an equal amount of time for students.
Summer Exams Timetable
Attendance to Examinations
Attendance for these examinations is compulsory. If your child is ill, please contact the attendance team in the morning as a matter of urgency. We will take advice from the exams officer in coordination with the Joint Council for Qualification (JCQ) and decide a course of action. All students are to come prepared with all their equipment (including water and snacks) and must be in full school uniform.
BTEC Coursework Completion
All BTEC/practical coursework should now be nearing completion. Where students have yet to finish this coursework, they may be withdrawn from other lessons to complete it. Failure to complete any coursework requirements will result in any invitation to this year’s prom being withdrawn and/or examination transcript not being released for college. It is vitally important that students complete all elements of courses they have been entered.
Support for Examinations
To support your child, P6 interventions will take place. Subjects can be seen below. Please encourage your child to attend these sessions along with completing all other revision resources signposted by their teacher.
| Day | Subject |
|---|---|
| Monday | History |
| Tuesday | Maths |
| Wednesday | English MFL Drama |
| Thursday | Science History Art/ Photography |
| Friday | College Applications |
All Year 11s will be required in the academy until the end of the examination series. However, from Friday the 12th of May we will run an amended timetable for Year 11 students. This will follow the same format we have used during the recent mock exams:
We will run a high-quality booster session the day before all examinations.
If the exam is in the morning (9.30am start), we will:
- Run our exam breakfast from 8.00am in the Entrance Hall with subject teachers and raising achievement mentors. This is an important part of their preparations to ensure they are early to school; settle any last-minute nerves and ensure they have had an adequate breakfast.
- From 8.30am, they will have a 50-minute pre-examination session with their teacher before taking the examination.
If the exam is in the afternoon (1.30pm start), we will:
- Run a 60-minute pre-examination session, provide an early lunch and a final 30-minute pre-examination session with their teacher before taking the examination.
- We will also increase the amount of revision sessions for students who require extra support secure the grades required for college entry.
Raising Achievement Centre
The school’s Raising Achievement Centre will be open from 8.00am, during both break times and from 3.10pm – 4.15pm each day for students to study independently.
Pre-exam Breakfasts
Cold breakfast options will be provided for all Year 11 students to support with their examination preparations. This will be available from 8.00am each day of an exam.
If you have any questions please contact the Year 11 team.
Students can bring in their completed revision so their teacher can award Passport to Prom points. Students can use the Denes Desirables booklets to help with revision.
GCSE Pod To log in use your Outlook email address and reset password.
English Literature and Language
Watch YouTube English Literature and Language
Watch videos on GCSE Pod
Please use the activities in the booster pack to revise. Try to memorise quotes and explode them. Use the adjective to write thesis statements for each character.
English Language: Complete the activities.
Extra revision; YouTube videos on texts and poems, past papers on AQA websites like The Guardian, practise writing speeches and letters, annotate poetry anthology.
Mr Bruff videos for English language and literature on YouTube.
Mathematics
Look at feedback sheets from the March mock exams to find out what topics to revise.
Watch GCSE Pod videos.
Access Microsoft Teams videos and work on the uploaded past paper questions with mark schemes.
Corbettmaths have videos and exam questions grouped by topic.
Science
Complete the 100 questions grid for biology, chemistry and physics.
Watch GCSE Pod videos.
Science Quizziz using links on Microsoft Teams.
History
Complete medical questions.
Complete paper 2 booklets.
Geography
Student are to use their GCP revision and practise guide books (each student was issued one in Year 10)
Seneca Learning
Knowledge Organisers
Modern Foreign Languages
All MFL students should be preparing and memorising their one minute presentation and general conversation questions, ready for the speaking exams.
Health and Social Care
If students still need to sit the exam, see here for revision.
Art and Photography
Art students need to continue the prep for the exam, focussing on their own targets.
Primary drawings and experiments linked to their idea. “Lock” is the exam title.
Photography students are to continue to take primary photographs, linked to their ideas.
Religious Studies
Revise and plan 12- mark answers.
Select one question from each topic and create a detailed plan including teachings to support and an evaluation.
Music
Revise using your student booklet and information sheet on job roles.
GCSE Revision Timetable
Q. How can my child earn Passport to Prom points?
All the revision and preparation activities have prom points attached. The more revision using the Denes Desirables they evidence for their teachers, the greater the number of points available. Attendance at P6 and Study Hall every afternoon is the easiest way to keep the tally of points rising, but any revision completed at home can also increase the points. Even if students don’t attend P6 and Study Hall, they are expected to complete the work set by the teachers and therefore have every opportunity to secure the points needed to attend prom.
The final deadline for Year 11s to earn Passport to Prom points is – end of day Friday 12th of May. Please see below for ways you can earn points.
Q. How can I support my child at home?
From the start of the academic year, we have taught Year 11 a range of revision strategies focusing on the use of their Knowledge Organisers through the Denes Desirables (Mind Dumps, Quizzes and Collective Memory strategies). I have included guidance on these strategies as an extra attachment. These are effective strategies your child can use both in Study Hall at the end of the school day, or at home to support their revision for these examinations. Please encourage your child to use these along with the other revision resources signposted by their teacher. If your child has any doubt as to the content covered by the examinations, then please contact the curriculum leader of the relevant subject.
Q. Is attendance at exams compulsory?
Yes. Attendance for these examinations is compulsory. If your child is ill, please contact the attendance team in the morning as a matter of urgency. We will take advice from the Exams Officer in coordination with the Joint Council for Qualification (JCQ) and decide a course of action.
All students are expected to come fully prepared to sit the examination. All examination regulations set out by the JCQ in relation to mobile phones, watches, all other electronic devices and conduct must be adhered to, or students will be removed from the exam and risk failing the examination or be refused entry to subsequent examinations at the academy.
Q. Who do I contact if I have any concerns about exams?
For all issues regarding examinations, you are advised not to contact examination boards/JCQ directly. If contacted, the awarding body/JCQ will direct you back to us as the centre. Correspondence on any aspect of a candidate’s examination or assessment will be conducted between the awarding body and the Principal, Mr Donovan or Ms Frosdick, our Examinations Officer. In the first instance, please contact Ms Frosdick at [email protected]
Q. My child is finding the examinations stressful – what can I do to help?
We understand that examinations are stressful and can cause anxiety for some students. There is help, support and guidance available in the academy, covering how to revise and how to deal with common feelings of stress and anxiety. We continue to support your child through our ongoing programme of tutor time activities and the assembly programme. We are also looking at bringing in external mental health support to speak to students about strategies they can use when managing exam stress and anxiety. If you have further questions or require clarification on any of the details in this letter, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Donovan or any member of the Year 11 team.
All students sitting exams must use their legal names on all papers rather than any preferred or known-as names; the exam boards may not mark any papers with discrepancies in names. Legal names will appear on all certificates issued.
Students will not be permitted to leave the exam room unless they have been awarded supervised rest breaks via the SENco team.
Appeals
Please contact the exams manager for information on the Examinations Internal Appeals Procedure.
Getting through exams can be a challenge, but try not to panic. There are ways to beat exam stress and make sure you get the best possible results.
You might also find the following links useful:
We are required to keep certificates for one year only, after this time they can be confidentially destroyed. It is very important that you collect them, as you will need them for college, university or job applications.
If you fail to collect your exam certificates, we have to retain them for one year. After this date, they will be destroyed.
If you have lost your certificates or did not collect them, and the academy no longer has them, you will need to order replacements from the exam boards.
There will be a cost incurred for searching the exam board records/issuing replacement certificates. This cost will vary from board to board, but usually ranges from £30 to £42 per exam season.
There is also the facility with some boards to have a confirmation letter sent, showing results to prospective employers/colleges etc. Again there is a charge for this service and you should allow at least 28 days for this process.
Please be aware that the academy is unable to obtain replacement certificates on your behalf.
The 2022 exam results can be viewed below.
For the latest information on school results, please refer to our entry on the Department for Education website here.
Guidance for students, parents and carers, from the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ)
Examinations Manager
Ria Frosdick
- Ormiston Denes Academy
- Centre number: 19133
- Tel: 01502 574474 (ext 107)