Examination Policy (2020-2021) - Avon Valley College
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Examination Policy
(2020-2021)
Examination Policy Page 1 of 10 September 2020
Salisbury Plain Academies. Executive Principal: Sam Johnston
Core Services Hub, Avon Valley College, Recreation Road, Durrington, SP4 8HH
Registered in England: 10163646SALISBURY PLAIN ACADEMIES POLICIES
POLICY NAME: Examination Policy
Policy Prepared by: Michelle Toomer
Document Filename Mtg Summary of changes
date submitted required
10/09/2020 Examination Policy N/A
Policy Review Date: July 2021
Examination Policy Page 2 of 10 September 2020
Salisbury Plain Academies. Executive Principal: Sam Johnston
Core Services Hub, Avon Valley College, Recreation Road, Durrington, SP4 8HH
Registered in England: 10163646Contents
1. Exam Responsibilities ............................................................................................................. 4
2. The Statutory Tests and Qaulifications Offered/ Exam Timetables .................................... 6
3. Entries, Entry Details, Late Entries and Retakes ……………………………………...…6
4. Examination Fees ................................................................................................................... 7
5. The Disability Discrimination Act/ Equality Act 2010/ Access Arrangements ................... 7
6. Examination Days/ Candidates, Clash Candidates and Apecial Consideration ........... 8
7. Coursework and Appeals against Internal Assessments…………………………….9
8. Results, enquiries about Results and access to scripts………………………………..9
9. Certificates……………………………………………………………………………………10
Examination Policy Page 3 of 10 September 2020
Salisbury Plain Academies. Executive Principal: Sam Johnston
Core Services Hub, Avon Valley College, Recreation Road, Durrington, SP4 8HH
Registered in England: 10163646Exam Responsibilities
The purpose of this examination policy is:
• To ensure the planning and management of exams is conducted efficiently
and in the best interest of candidates
• To endure the operation of an efficient exam system with clear guidelines for
all relevant staff
The examination policy will be reviewed annually by the examinations manager,
and the Vice Principal.
The Principal of the college has overall responsibility for the college as an exam
centre:
• advises on appeals and re-marks
• is responsible for reporting all suspicions or actual incidents of malpractice.
The Examinations Manager manages the administration of public and internal
examinations. He/she advises the college executive, Subject Leaders, pastoral
team leaders, tutors and other relevant support staff on annual examination
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 curriculum team leaders
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 curriculum team leaders 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 expenditures relating to all examination costs
Examination Policy Page 4 of 10 September 2020
Salisbury Plain Academies. Executive Principal: Sam Johnston
Core Services Hub, Avon Valley College, Recreation Road, Durrington, SP4 8HH
Registered in England: 10163646• Organises the recruitment, training and monitoring of a team of exams
invigilators responsible for the conduct of exams
• prepares and presents reports to the Vice Principal (on the day prior to results
publication) showing results achieved in relation to expected grades and
comparable data for previous years.
• Prepares and presents an evaluative report to the college executive, indicating
where future procedural improvements might be made
• submits candidates’ coursework marks, tracks dispatch and stores returned
coursework and any other material required by the appropriate awarding bodies
correctly and on schedule.
• arranges for dissemination of examination results and certificates to candidates
and forwards, in consultation with the college executive, any appeals/re-mark
requests
• maintains systems and processes to support the timely entry of candidates for
their examinations.
The Vice Principal
• Validates courses followed at key stage 4 / post-16.
• Analyses examination results to inform college executive, governors, curriculum
team leaders and staff the issues for inclusion in section 3 of the self-evaluation
form and the college improvement plan.
• Will prepare a statement for release to the Media following public exam results.
Subject Leaders
• Submission of candidate names to the examinations manager.
• 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 examinations manager.
• Notification of access arrangements (as soon as possible after the start of the
course).
• Ensure that candidates understand coursework regulations and sign a
declaration that authenticates the coursework as their own.
• Ensure that candidates understand controlled assessment regulations and that
they are completed on time.
Pastoral Team Leaders and Tutors
• Guidance and pastoral oversight of candidates who are unsure about exam
entries or amendments to entries.
• Involvement in post-results procedures.
• Ensuring that candidates confirm and sign individual entry forms.
Examination Policy Page 5 of 10 September 2020
Salisbury Plain Academies. Executive Principal: Sam Johnston
Core Services Hub, Avon Valley College, Recreation Road, Durrington, SP4 8HH
Registered in England: 10163646SENCO
• 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 candidates achieve their course aims.
The Statutory tests and qualifications offered
The statutory tests and qualifications offered at this centre are decided the senior
leadership team.
The statutory tests and qualifications offered are GCSE, AS levels, A2 levels, BTEC, NCFE,
Vision to Learn and Vocational Qualifications.
The subjects offered for these qualifications in any academic year may be found in the
published prospectus for that year.
At Key Stage 4
All candidates will be entitled, and enabled, to achieve entries for at least 5
qualifications from an external awarding body.
Exam Timetables
Timetables
The examinations manager will circulate the exam timetables for both external and
internal exams once these are confirmed.
Entries, entry details, late entries and retakes
Entries
Candidates are selected for their exam entries by the heads of sixth form, curriculum
team leaders and the Vice Principal.
The college does not, automatically, accept entries from external candidates.
Late entries
Entry deadlines are circulated to curriculum team leaders via email. Late entries are
authorised by curriculum team leaders.
Examination Policy Page 6 of 10 September 2020
Salisbury Plain Academies. Executive Principal: Sam Johnston
Core Services Hub, Avon Valley College, Recreation Road, Durrington, SP4 8HH
Registered in England: 10163646Retakes
Retake decisions will be made in consultation with the candidates, curriculum team
leaders, head of post-16, examinations manager and senior leaders. (See also section 5:
Exam fees)
Examination fees
Initial registration and entry exam fees are paid by the college for GCSE, AS, A2 BTEC,
NCFE, Vocational Qualifications and Vision to Learn.
Late entry or amendment fees are paid by the curriculum areas.
Candidates or curriculum areas 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.
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])
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), special needs and access arrangements and
Equality Act 2010
The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 extends the application of the DDA to general
qualifications. The college must ensure that the access arrangements and special
consideration regulations and guidance are consistent with the law.
A candidate’s special needs requirements are determined by the SENCO and his / her
team.
The SENCO will inform staff of any special arrangements that individual candidates may
be granted during the examination.
Making special arrangements for candidates to take exams is the responsibility of the
SENCO and the examinations manager.
Submitting completed access arrangement applications to the awarding bodies is the
responsibility of the Senco.
The College must insure under The Equality Act 2010 that students and staff are protected
from discrimination. Including:
• age
• being or becoming a transsexual person
• being married or in a civil partnership
• being pregnant or on maternity leave
• disability
Examination Policy Page 7 of 10 September 2020
Salisbury Plain Academies. Executive Principal: Sam Johnston
Core Services Hub, Avon Valley College, Recreation Road, Durrington, SP4 8HH
Registered in England: 10163646• race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin
• religion, belief or lack of religion/belief
• sex
• sexual orientation
Examination days
Managing invigilators
External invigilators will be used for examination supervision. They will be used for all
external and selected internal exams.
The recruitment of invigilators, and securing the necessary Disclosure and Barring Service
(DBS) clearance is the responsibility of the examinations manager. DBS fees for securing
such clearance are paid by the college.
Invigilators are timetabled and briefed by the exams officer. Their rates of pay are set by
the Business Manager.
Examination days
The examinations manager will book all exam rooms after liaison with other users and make
the question papers, other exam stationery and materials available for the invigilators.
Facilities management is responsible for setting up the allocated rooms.
The curriculum team leader will start all examinations in accordance with JCQ
guidelines.
In practical exams subject teachers may be on hand in case of any technical difficulties.
Candidates, clash candidates and special consideration
Candidates
The college’s rules on acceptable dress and behaviour apply at all times.
Candidates are not allowed mobile phones or electronic devices in the examination
room.
Candidates’ personal belongings remain their own responsibility and the college 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 will accompany them.
The examinations manager will attempt to contact any candidate who is not present at
the start of an exam and deal with them in accordance with JCQ guidelines.
Examination Policy Page 8 of 10 September 2020
Salisbury Plain Academies. Executive Principal: Sam Johnston
Core Services Hub, Avon Valley College, Recreation Road, Durrington, SP4 8HH
Registered in England: 10163646Clash candidates
The examinations manager will be responsible as necessary for identifying escorts,
identifying a secure venue and arranging overnight stays.
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 examinations
manager to that effect.
Any special consideration claim will be supported by appropriate evidence within five
days after the exam, for example a letter from the candidate’s doctor.
The examinations manager will then apply for special consideration to the relevant
awarding body within seven days of the exam.
Coursework and appeals against internal assessments
Coursework
Candidates who have to prepare portfolios should do so by the college-defined deadline
date.
Curriculum Team Leaders will ensure all coursework is ready for dispatch 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 examinations manager.
Appeals against internal assessments
• 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 Vice Principal who will
decide whether the process used conformed to the necessary
requirements
• the findings will be notified in writing, copied to the examinations manager and
recorded for awarding body inspection.
Results, enquiries about results (EARs) and access to scripts (ATS)
Results
Candidates receive individual results slips on results days in person at the college or by
post. (Candidates to provide sae).
Examination Policy Page 9 of 10 September 2020
Salisbury Plain Academies. Executive Principal: Sam Johnston
Core Services Hub, Avon Valley College, Recreation Road, Durrington, SP4 8HH
Registered in England: 10163646Arrangements for the college to be open on results days are made by the Examinations
manager.
The provision of staff on results days is the responsibility of the Vice Principal.
Enquires about results.
EARs may be requested by college staff if there are reasonable grounds for believing
there has been an error in marking.
When the college does not uphold an EAR from a candidate, the candidate may apply
to have an enquiry carried out. If a candidate requires this against the advice of the
college, they will be charged. (See section 5: Exam fees)
Access to Scripts.
After the release of results, candidates may ask the examination manager to request the
return of papers within three days.
If a result is queried, a member of the Vice Principal will investigate the feasibility of
asking for a re-mark at the college’s expense.
GCSE re-marks cannot be applied for once a script has been returned.
Fair Assessment
All learners will have the same opportunity to achieve a qualification, so that no learner is
disadvantaged on the basis of any attribute or circumstance (e.g. language/disability).
All learners are provided with the opportunity to achieve their full potential by the most
appropriate and direct route, based on the principles of equality, diversity, clarity,
consistency and openness. We will implement assessment processes in a way which is fair
and non-discriminatory.
Staff, students and third parties can request a copy of this policy from the Exams Manger.
For more information, the JCQ guide is available on their website: Access Arrangements,
Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration and Equality and Diversity.
Certificates
Certificates are either awarded in person, posted (first class), posted (when provided with
a stamped, addressed A4 envelope) or collected and signed for.
Certificates may be collected on behalf of a candidate by a third party, provided they
have written authorisation to do so.
Certificates are not withheld from candidates who owe fees.
The College retains certificates for one year.
Examination Policy Page 10 of 10 September 2020
Salisbury Plain Academies. Executive Principal: Sam Johnston
Core Services Hub, Avon Valley College, Recreation Road, Durrington, SP4 8HH
Registered in England: 10163646You can also read
