Year 10 Exams

All Year 10 will be sitting formal exams week beginning Monday 13 April.

These exams are important for several reasons:

a) they give us (and you) an important indication of the progress students have made during Key Stage 4.

b) they give students experience in sitting formal exams which will help them do better in the GCSE exams.

c) they help teachers identify strengths and weaknesses.

d) they help students to identify areas for development and can help them fill any gaps in their knowledge.

To get the most from the exams, it is important that students prepare thoroughly. We recommend that they spend two hours each evening revising – this revision may take several forms but should not consist merely of reading through their notes. Revision help can be found under the KS4 R.I.C section on our website HERE. They may spend time producing their own revision summaries, perhaps in the form of mind-maps or flashcards.

Overall, we want the students to take the exams seriously but not to worry about them. All exams will take place in the Sports Hall apart from French German & Spanish Listening & Reading and Music which will take place in the Main Hall and other small venues. Students will need to bring their basic equipment in a clear pencil case or plastic bag. Please be aware, mobile phones, watches and any paperwork/notes are banned from exam venues, to protect your child from accusation of malpractice these items should be placed in their bags or handed to an invigilator. We have invested in larger, brighter clocks in all exam venues which are synchronised. These clocks are placed to ensure all students can clearly see the time from all areas of the exam venue.

Students will attend their tutor sessions for AM registration and then be escorted to their exams. Where an exam starts after break, students should assemble on the tennis course when the bell sounds. Afternoon exams have different start times; students should go for lunch 30 minutes before the start time and then make their way to the tennis courts 10 minutes before the start times.

For some exams there will be two tiers of entry. Students need to ensure they know which tier of paper they will be sitting. They must ask their teachers prior to the exams.

Under the Education Act 1996, section 444 (1), it is the responsibility of parents to ensure that their child attends school regularly; this includes sitting all exams. Failure to comply with this could result in a penalty notice being issued. Please note there is no right of appeal if a penalty notice is issued.

If you have any questions about the Year 10 exams, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Yours faithfully

Mrs W Wollaston & Mrs M Limburn