Examinations
School examinations are an integral part of pupil assessment, and at least once in every academic year group, pupils will sit internally set examinations as part of the school's assessment, recording and reporting programme.
For the current academic year each year group will undertake internal assessments and examinations at least twice. One assessment will involve subject assessment and behaviour data being sent home to parents. The other will be a full subject report followed by a parent teacher meeting.
The timing of the assessments will be publicised in the Information Evenings held for each year group early in the Autumn Term and in the termly reports to parents.
Every pupil who is able and willing to profit from examination work in particular subjects is normally entered for public examinations at the appropriate time.
The main public examinations taken by pupils are:
- GCSEs, BTEC, DIPLOMA (YEAR11)
- GCE, AS Levels, BTEC (YEAR12)
- GCE, A LEVEL, BTEC, AS LEVEL (YEAR13)
- various practical and theory examinations of the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music (all years)
Pupils are entered by the school after consultation with parents about the number of subjects and the examination level which is appropriate to each candidate's ability and aspirations, and account has been taken of the pupil's work rate, overall performance in the appropriate subject and attendance.
The dates of the summer 2010 Public Examinations are:
Years 10 & 11
GCSE's
Monday 17th May to Wednesday 30th June 2010
Year 12 & 13
GCE A2/AS Levels
Monday 17th May to Wednesday 30th June 2010
Links To The Examination Boards
Summary Of School Policy On Entry To Public Examinations
1 - Normal arrangements are that pupils in Years 10 and 11 study for either 9 or 10 GCSE examinations (depending on entry to English Language and English Literature)
2 - Criteria used for entry is that the pupil:
a. has a minimum of 90% attendance at lessons for that subject except where there has been unavoidable absence such as long term illness
b. has satisfactorily completed, by the deadlines specified, all coursework requirements
c. has made a satisfactory effort throughout the course with homework, classwork and tests
d. has demonstrated the capability of achieving the minimum 'pass' grade (G)
It is extremely important that pupils attend school regularly. Children will learn most effectively if their attendance is good.
We ask parents to support us in ensuring that unnecessary absences are avoided at all times, but especially during the crucial period leading up to public examinations.
External Examination Entries
Pupils in years 10-13 will be involved in external examinations at various times throughout the year. Dates of these examinations should be available from your son/daughter's subject teachers. Entries to these examinations cost the school a lot of money and therefore it is essential the school is informed of possible absence from these examinations well in advance of the date of the examination. It may be necessary for the school to ask you for re-imbursement of the entry fee if a valid reason for absence from an examination is not given in advance of the date. Illness on the day of the examination must be reported to the school as soon as possible and a medical note sent into the examination office.
Coursework for Public Examinations
Coursework Leaflet for Parents
Students
in years 12 &13 are given the following leaflet at the beginning of the year.
Notice to Candidates
More About Plagiarism
Plagiarism involves taking someone else's words, thoughts or ideas amd trying to pass them off as your own. It is a form of cheating which is taken very seriously.
Don't think you won't be caught. There are many ways to detect plagiarism:
- Markers can spot changes in the style of writing and use of language.
- Markers are highly experienced subject specialists who are very familiar with work on the topic concerned they may have read the source you are using (or even marked the essay you have copied from.)
- Internet search engines and specialised computer software can be used to match phrases or pieces of text with original sources and to detect changes in the grammar and style of writing or punctuation.
Penalties for Breaking the Regulations
If your work is submitted and it is discovered you have broken the regulations, one of the following penalties will be applied:
- the piece of work will be awarded zero marks
- you will be disqualified from that unit for that exam session
- you will be disqualified from the whole subject for that exam session
- you will be disqualified and barred from entering again for a period of time.
Your award body will decide which penalty is appropriate.
Remember - it's your award so it needs to be your own work.
The JCQ consists of AQA, CCEA, City & Guilds, Edexcel, OCR, SQA and WJEC, the seven largest providers of qualifications in the UK, offering GCSE, GCE, VCE, GNVQ, AEA, Entry Level, Scottish Highers, Vocational and Vocationally-related qualifications.
Students in years 10 &11 are given the following leaflet at the beginning of the year.
Notice to Candidates Controlled Assessments
Policy on Internal Assessments for Qualifications with the Awarding Bodies
In accordance with the Code of Practice for the conduct of external qualifications produced by the QCA, St Jospeh's RC Comprehensive School is commited to ensuring that:
- Internal Assessmentsare conducted by staff who have the appropriate knowledge, understanding and skill
- Assessment evidence provided by candidates is produced and authenticated according to the requirements of the relevant Specifications for each subject
- The consistency of internal assessments is assured through internal standardisation as set out by the Awarding Bodies
- Staff responsible for internal standardisation and/or assessment atend any compulsory training sessions.
Written Appeals Procedure
Each Awarding Body publishes procedures for appeals against its decisions, and the Examinations Officer will be able to advise pupils and parents of these procedures.
Appeals may be made to the School regarding the procedures used in internal assessments, but not the actual marks or grades submitted by the School for moderation by the Awarding Body.
A pupil or parent wishing to appeal against the procedures used in internal assessments should contact the Head of Centre as soon as possible to discuss the appeal, and a written appeal must be recieved by the School at least two weeks before the date of the last external exam in the subject.
On receipt of a written appeal, an enquiry into the internal assessment will be conducted by the Head of Centre. This enquiry will consider whether the procedures used in the internal assessment conformed to the published requirements of the Awarding Body.
The appelant will be informed in writing of the outcome of the appeal, including details of any relevant communication with the Awarding Body and of any steps taken to further protect the interests of the candidates.
Pupils are to be given this information at the beginning of year 10/12 along with their notice to candidates regarding the authenticity of their work.
Statement for Pupils
"If at any stage during your exam courses you have concerns about the procedures used in assessing your internally marked work for public exams (e.g. coursework/portfolio/projects) you should see the Head of Centre as soon as possible. You cannot appeal against the mark awarded".
Students will receive this notice attached to their examination timetable
Notice to Candidates