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Jo – remove whole school assembly 1 per term

The Queen Elizabeth Academy

Review Date – February 2019

Policy reviewed by TQEA February 2018

This policy links to: Located:

TQEA Equality Policy

TQEA SEND Policy

TQEA Behaviour Policy

TQEA Internal Appeals Procedure

TQEA staff W drive

Exams Policy

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Key staff involved in the exams policy

Role Name(s)

Head of centre Daniel Watts

Exams officer line manager (Senior Leader) Peter Ward

Exams officer Alison Bursnell

SENCo Shiv Ressel

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Exam Policy Contents

Qualifications

Exam series and timetables

Entries, entry details and late entries

Exam fees

Disability Discrimination Act

Contingency Planning

Private Candidates

Estimated grades

Managing invigilators

Malpractice

Exam Days

Candidates

Controlled Assessments and Non Examined Assessments

Results, Enquiries about Results and Access to Scripts

Certificates

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

Appendix 3

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The policy purpose The purpose of this exam policy is:

To ensure the planning and management of exams is conducted efficiently and in the best interest of candidates.

To ensure the operation of an efficient exam system with clear guidelines for all relevant staff. It is the responsibility of everyone involved in the Centre's exam processes to read, understand and implement this policy.

The exam policy will be reviewed every year.

The exam policy will be reviewed by the Head of Centre, Senior Leadership Team, Exams Officer and Governors.

Where references are made to JCQ regulations/guidelines, further details can be found at www.jcq.org.uk.

Exam responsibilities

Having overall responsibility for the school as an exam centre, the Head of Centre:

Ensures the centre has appropriate accommodation to support the size of the cohorts being taught

Ensures the National Centre Number Register Annual Update (administered on behalf of the JCQ member

awarding bodies by OCR) is responded to by the end of October confirming they are both aware of and

adhering to the latest version of the JCQ regulations and instructions for conducting examinations and

approves the Head of Centre formal declaration

Ensures a named member of staff acts as the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo)

Ensures centre staff are supported and appropriately trained to undertake key tasks within the exams process

Ensures centre staff undertake key tasks within the exams process and meet internal deadlines set by the EO

Ensures security within the examination process is managed according to JCQ and awarding body

regulations, guidance and instructions including

- the location of the centre’s secure storage unit is in an area solely assigned to examinations

- the relevant awarding body is immediately informed if the security of question papers or

confidential supporting instructions is put at risk

- that arrangements are in place to check that the correct question paper packets are opened by

authorised members of centre staff

Advises on appeals and re-marks.

Is responsible for reporting all suspicions or actual incidents of malpractice. Refer to the JCQ document - Suspected malpractice in examinations and assessments.

Exams office manager / exams officer

Manages the administration of public and internal exams

Understands the contents of annually updated JCQ publications including:

o General regulations for approved centres

o Instructions for conducting examinations

o Suspected Malpractice in Examinations and Assessments

o Post-results services (PRS)

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Is familiar with the contents of annually updated information from awarding bodies on administrative

procedures, key tasks, key dates and deadlines

Advises the senior leadership team, subject and class tutors and other relevant support staff on annual exam timetables and application procedures as set by the various awarding bodies

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 staff concerning imminent deadlines and events

Ensures that candidates and their parents are informed of all the relevant JCQ Information for Candidates (an example shown in Appendix A) and also understand those aspects of the exam timetable that will affect them

Consults with teaching staff to ensure that necessary assessment is completed on time and in

accordance with JCQ guidelines

Provides and confirms detailed data on estimated entries if required

Receives checks and stores securely all exam papers and completed scripts

Prompts the responsible HLTA to administer access arrangements and to initiate applications for

special consideration using the JCQ publications Access Arrangements Reasonable Adjustments and

Special Consideration.

Identifies and manages exam timetable clashes

Accounts for income and expenditures relating to all exam costs/charges

Oversees the senior exam invigilator and assists in organising the recruitment, training and monitoring of a team of exams invigilators responsible for the conduct of exams

Submits candidates' internal assessment marks, tracks dispatch and stores returned assessments and any other material required by the appropriate awarding bodies correctly and on schedule

Arranges for dissemination of exam results and certificates to candidates and forwards, in consultation with the SLT, any appeals/re-mark requests

Maintains systems and processes to support the timely entry of candidates for their exams.

Teachers are responsible for:

Notification of access arrangements requirements (as soon as possible after the start of the course).

Submission of candidates' names to Curriculum Leaders/school/curriculum. The SEND Coordinator (SENDCo) is responsible for:

Identification and testing of candidates, requirements and administration 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.

Lead invigilator/invigilators are responsible for:

Assisting the exams officer in the efficient running of exams according to JCQ regulations

Receipt of exam papers and other material from the exams office before the start of the exam.

Collection of all exam papers in the correct order at the end of the exam and their return to the exams

office.

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Candidates are responsible for:

Maintaining proper conduct throughout in accordance the guidelines provided by JCQ. (An example of which is Appendix 1)

Confirmation and signing of entries.

Understanding assessment regulations and signing a declaration that authenticates the assessment as their own.

Qualifications offered

The qualifications offered at this centre are decided by the Head of centre, Curriculum Leaders and Senior leadership team. The subjects offered for these qualifications in any academic year may be found in the centre's options booklet and listed on the school website under the exams section. If there has been a change of specification from the previous year, the exams office must be informed by the 20th September in the current year.

Informing the exams office of changes to a specification is the responsibility of the Curriculum Leaders only after having sought approval from their SLT Line manager, with approval sought from Governors if appropriate.

Decisions on whether a candidate should be entered for a particular subject will be made by the Head of Centre, in consultation with the Candidates, Parents/Carers, Subject teachers, Head of subject and SLT.

Qualifications

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Exam seasons

Internal exams and assessments are scheduled in on demand.

External exams and assessments are scheduled throughout the year.

All Year 10 and 11 internal exams are held under external exam conditions.

The Head of Centre, SLT and Curriculum Leaders decide which exam series are used in the centre.

On-demand assessments can be scheduled only in windows agreed between the exams officer and the senior leadership.

Timetable

Once confirmed, the Exams Officer will circulate the exam timetable for Internal exams and External exams at a specified date before each series commences.

Entries, entry details and late entries

Candidates are selected for their exam entries by the Curriculum Leaders.

Candidates or parents/carers can request a subject entry, change of level or withdrawal.

The centre does not act as an exam centre for other organisations.

Entry deadlines are circulated to Curriculum Leaders via Notice board, Briefing meeting, email and Internal post/pigeon hole as appropriate.

Late entries are authorised by Head of Centre and Exams Officer.

Exam fees

Candidates or departments 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. GCSE entry exam fees are paid by the Centre.

Late entry or amendment fees are paid by departments, centre or candidates depending on circumstances.

Exam series and timetables

Entries, entry details and late entries

Exam fees

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Fee reimbursements are sought from candidates who fail, without good reason, to complete the requirements of a public exam where the governing body or local authority originally paid/agreed to pay the fee.

Re-sit fees are paid by the Centre.

Equalities Act

All exam centre staff must ensure that they meet the requirements of the Equalities Act (2010), ensuring that there is access for all. This is the responsibility of the Head of Centre, Exams Officer, SENDCo and Services Manager. Full details contained within the TQEA Equality Policy located on the TQEA staff W drive. Access arrangements

The SENDCo will inform subject teachers of candidates with special educational needs who are embarking on a course leading to an exam. The SENDCo can then inform individual staff of any special arrangements that individual candidates can be granted during the course and in the exam.

A candidate's access arrangements requirement is determined by the SENDCo, Doctor and Educational psychologist/Specialist teacher.

Making access arrangements for candidates to take exams is the responsibility of both the SENDCo/ HLTA with responsibility and Exams officer.

Submitting completed access arrangement applications to the awarding bodies is the responsibility of the SENDCo.

Rooming for access arrangement candidates will be arranged by the SENDCo with the exams officer.

Invigilation and support for access arrangement candidates will be organised by the SENDCo and HLTA with responsibility with the Exams officer. Further details contained within the TQEA SEND Policy located on the TQEA staff W drive.

Contingency planning for exams administration is the responsibility of the exams officer. The plan is available on request from the exams office.

Disability Discrimination Act

Contingency planning

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The Centre does not accept private candidates.

Heads of subject are responsible for submitting estimated grades where requested to the exams officer when necessary.

External staff are primarily used to invigilate examinations, internal staff are only utilized when absolutely necessary.

These invigilators will be used for Internal exams and External exams. Recruitment of invigilators is the responsibility of the Senior leaders. Securing the necessary Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) clearance for new invigilators is the responsibility of the Centre administration. DBS fees for securing such clearance are paid by the centre. Invigilators are timetabled and briefed by the exams office. Invigilators rates of pay are set by the centre administration.

The Head of Centre in consultation with the Exams office is responsible for investigating suspected malpractice.

The Head of Centre ensures any cases of alleged, suspected or actual incidents of malpractice or

maladministration before, during or after examinations/assessments (by centre staff, candidates, invigilators)

are investigated and reported to the awarding body immediately, by completing the appropriate

documentation.

Private Candidates

Estimated grades

Managing invigilators

Malpractice

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The exams officer will book all exam rooms after liaison with other users and make the question papers, other exam stationery and materials available for the invigilator.

Site management in conjunction with the exams officer is responsible for setting up the allocated rooms.

The lead invigilator will start and finish all exams in accordance with JCQ guidelines.

Members of the Senior Leadership Team may be present at the start of the exam to identify and settle candidates and instil discipline. Any staff present must be in accordance with the rules defined by JCQ concerning who is allowed in the exam room and what they can do.

In practical exams, subject teachers’ availability will be in accordance with JCQ guidelines.

Exam papers must not be read by subject teachers or removed from the exam room before the end of a session. Papers will be distributed to heads of department in accordance with JCQ’s recommendations.

After an exam, the exams officer will arrange for the safe dispatch of completed examination scripts to awarding bodies, working in conjunction with the exams secretary and invigilation team.

The Centre's published rules on acceptable dress, behaviour and candidates' use of mobile phones and other electronic devices apply at all times.

Candidates' personal belongings remain their own responsibility and the centre accepts no liability for their loss or damage.

Disruptive candidates are dealt with in accordance with JCQ guidelines.

Candidates are expected to stay for the full exam time at the discretion of the exams officer or senior invigilator.

For exams longer than one hour candidates may leave the exam early, but no sooner than one hour after the published starting time. They will not be allowed to return.

Candidates may only leave the exam room for a genuine purpose and are required to return immediately to the exam room. They must be accompanied by a member of the exams team at all times.

The Exams officer is responsible for handling late or absent candidates on exam day or subsequently.

For clash candidates, the supervision of candidates, identifying a secure venue and arranging overnight supervision is the responsibility of the Exams officer.

Should a candidate be ill before an exam, suffer bereavement or other trauma, be taken ill during the

Candidates

Exam Days

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exam itself or otherwise disadvantaged or disturbed during an exam, then it is the candidate's responsibility to alert the centre, the exams officer, or the exam invigilator, to that effect.

The candidate must support any special consideration claim with appropriate evidence within three days of the exam, for example by providing a letter from the candidate's doctor. The exams officer will then forward a completed special consideration form electronically to the relevant awarding body within the timescale set by each board.

Controlled Assessment and Non Examined Assessment replaces the largely discontinued term coursework.

These assessments are a form of internal assessment where control levels are set for each stage of the assessment process: task setting, task taking and task marking.

The purpose of this policy is to ensure:

that there is a systematic and consistent procedure for the management of controlled

assessment within the school; and

that assessment is carried out in accordance with JCQ instructions and individual awarding body

specifications.

Responsibilities Head of Centre

The Principal has the overall responsibility for ensuring that all assessment work is conducted in accordance with the JCQ instructions and individual awarding body specifications.

Senior Leadership Team

The Senior Leadership Team is responsible for:

Working with Curriculum Leaders to schedule assessment across KS4 / the academic year;

Mapping resource management requirements for the year;

Resolving clashes / problems over the timing or operation of controlled assessment;

Resolving issues arising from the need for particular facilities (rooms, IT networks, time out of school

etc.);

Ensuring all staff and students involved have a calendar of events. Setting deadlines for completion

Examinations Officer The Examinations Officer is responsible for:

Familiarising him/herself with the JCQ Instructions for Conducting Controlled Assessment and

Instructions for Conducting Non Examined Assessments

Where confidential materials are directly received by the exams office, receiving, storing and

Controlled Assessments and Non Examined Assessments

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transmitting this material securely, whether in digital, CD or hard copy format;

Ensuring that candidates’ work is kept in secure conditions but only where staff have asked for it to be

stored.

Ensuring the on line entry of mark sheets are completed correctly and before deadlines. Downloading

and distributing mark sheets if required, for departmental use;

Keeping a central record of the dispatch of assessment/moderation samples, including recipient details

and date and time sent;

Making students aware of the Internal Appeals Procedure and regulations concerning Malpractice. Curriculum Leaders

Curriculum Leaders are responsible for:

Familiarising themselves with the JCQ Instructions for Conducting Controlled Assessment and Conducting Non Examined Assessments and the detailed requirements of the relevant awarding body specification(s) for their subject, and ensuring these are implemented in practice;

Supplying the Examinations Officer with details of all unit codes for controlled assessments if

applicable;

Ensuring that at least 40% of overall assessment (controlled and/or external assessment) is taken in the exam series in which the qualification is certificated, to satisfy the terminal assessment requirement in accordance with the awarding body specification;

Ensuring that assessment tasks issued to candidates are appropriate to the year in which assessment will be submitted to the awarding body;

Working with the SLT to help schedule assessment across KS4 and, where necessary, to resolve issues arising over timing or the need for resources;

Ensuring that all assessment dates are entered on the School Calendar and are forwarded to the

examinations officer

Ensuring registers for sessions are maintained in a timely manner.

Where appropriate, developing new assessment tasks or contextualising sample awarding body assessment tasks to meet local circumstances, in line with the specification and control requirements;

Working with the ICT technical team to ensure any ICT requirements are in place and tested before assessment takes place;

Ensuring that all staff in the department understand their responsibilities with regard to assessment and the requirements of the specification, relevant teachers’ notes and any other subject specific instructions;

Ensuring that internal departmental assessment procedures and deadlines are clear and shared with all relevant staff and students;

Ensuring that assessment materials and candidates’ work are kept in secure conditions at all times.

Maintaining records of assessment sessions within the department;

Ensuring that you have the informed consent of parents/carers/guardians in the event that photographs/images of candidates are used as evidence of individual contribution;

Ensuring that internal standardisation is carried out according to the required procedures and evidence is

retained of this;

Requesting assessment mark sheets from the examinations officer, if applicable

Submitting assessment mark sheets via on line entry with the Examinations Officer;

Organising the submission of candidates’ work for moderation, keeping a record of the examination numbers and names of those candidates whose work is included in the sample sent to or seen by moderators, and passing on all relevant details to the Examinations Officer for the central record.

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Subject teachers

Whilst the Subject Leader has the overview and bears the overall responsibility for assessments in the department, subject teachers are responsible for the implementation of assessments relevant to their allocated classes.

Subject teachers are responsible for:

Understanding and complying with the general guidelines in the JCQ publication Instructions for

Conducting Controlled Assessments and Conducting Non Examined Assessments;

Understanding and complying with the awarding body specification for conducting assessments, including any subject specific instructions, teachers’ notes or additional information on the awarding body’s website;

Ensuring that candidates are fully aware of the assessment task requirements and know the assessment criteria they are expected to meet;

Working with the SENDCO/Student Services department to ensure the appropriate access arrangements are made for individual candidates;

Ensuring the correct levels of supervision are maintained during task taking;

Informing the Examinations Officer when a high level assessment is taking place

Checking that candidates using electronic storage facilities only introduce permitted material into the

assessment environment;

Completing registers for sessions in a timely manner for assessment session , indicating the date, time, duration, supervision arrangements and details of any incidents

Recording details of the nature of any feedback or guidance given to candidates, including any advice given to individual candidates over and above that given to the class as a whole;

Confirming that an assessment was completed under the required conditions and work is that of the candidates concerned by signing the Declaration of Authentication – Controlled Assessments;

Marking assessment tasks in line with specification requirements and to meet internal departmental

deadlines;

Involvement in internal standardisation as required by the Subject Leader.

SENDCO

The SENDCO is responsible for:

Informing teachers of candidates with special educational needs / access arrangements at the start of an examined course and changes during it’s duration, so that the appropriate arrangements can be made in class and for assessment purposes;

Advising on the implementation of access arrangements when required.

Absence

Subject teachers / Curriculum Leaders will accommodate the occasional absence of a candidate by ensuring that an opportunity is given to them to make up missed assessment. An alternative supervised session will be organised for such candidates. Should a candidate miss assessment sessions persistently and/or without prior notice his/her parents will be contacted to discuss the situation.

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For prolonged absence due to illness the Examinations Officer will apply (at his/her discretion) for special consideration.

Missed Deadlines

Subject teachers and Curriculum Leaders will make every effort to support candidates so that they submit work to meet published internal deadlines. Where there is a danger of a deadline being missed, the staff will contact the Curriculum Leader who will then contact parents to discuss the matter. It is at the schools discretion to accept assessment work after published final deadlines. Internal Marks

All candidates have a right of access to the marks awarded to them by the centre for internal assessment. These will be shared with students individually. All candidates will be made aware of the internal assessment appeals procedure which is available on the school webs. It will be made clear to students that any marks given are subject to change through the moderation process. Retention and Return of Assessments

In most cases, awarding bodies return centre‐assessed work to centres after the publication of results, although they reserve the right to retain samples and also retain work which has been the subject of irregularities or malpractice investigation;

The school holds assessment securely when it has been returned by the awarding body up to and including the deadline for the submission of enquiries about results and until any enquiry or malpractice investigation has been resolved;

Any work no longer required will be disposed of in a confidential manner by the school.

Candidates wishing to reclaim their work must do so in person from the Head of Department. All unclaimed assessment will be destroyed as detailed above.

Malpractice

Candidates must not:

Submit work which is not their own

Lend their own work to others or allow their work to be copied; allow others access to, or the use of their own independently sourced material

Use any books, the internet or other sources without acknowledgement or attribution

Submit work word processed by a third party without acknowledgement These actions constitute malpractice, for which a penalty, (e.g. disqualification from the assessment) will be applied.

It is the responsibility of the Examinations Officer to inform candidates of the JCQ regulations concerning malpractice, as detailed in the JCQ booklet Suspected Malpractice in Examinations and Assessments: Policies and Procedures;

If irregularities in assessments are discovered prior to the candidate signing the declaration of

authentication this will be dealt with under the school’s internal procedures as set out below. Details of any work which is not the candidate’s own will be recorded on the authentication form supplied by the awarding body or other appropriate place.

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If irregularities in assessments are identified by a centre after the candidate has signed the declaration of authentication, the Principal will submit full details of the case to the relevant awarding body at the earliest opportunity.

The JCQ notice on Information to Candidates regarding coursework is Appendix 2 and is also found on the school website exam section.

Internal Appeals

The school’s Internal Appeals Procedure covers the assessment process, & is located on the website under the Exams section.

Marks and appeals

Marks for all internally assessed work, and estimated grades if required, are provided to the exams office by the Curriculum Leaders.

Appeals against internal assessments

The process for managing appeals against internal assessments is detailed in the Internal Appeals Procedure which is found on the website under the Exams section or is available from the Exams Office. Risk Management Process for Internal Assessment This can be found in Appendix 3

Candidates will receive individual result slips on results days, either in person at the centre or by post to their home addresses, candidates to provide self addressed envelope.

Arrangements for the centre to be open on results days are made by the Head of Centre and Exams Officer.

The provision of staff on results days is the responsibility of the Head of Centre. EARs

EARs may be requested by centre staff or candidates if there are reasonable grounds for believing there has been an error in marking. The candidates consent is required before any EAR is requested.

If a result is queried, the Exams Officer, teaching staff and Head of Centre will investigate the feasibility of asking for a re-mark at the centre's expense.

When the centre does not support a candidate’s or parent’s request for an EAR, a candidate may apply to have an enquiry carried out. If a candidate requires this against the advice of subject staff, they will be charged.

Results, Enquiries About Results (EARs) and Access to Scripts (ATS)

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ATS

After the release of results, candidates may ask subject staff to request the return of papers within three days' scrutiny of the results.

Centre staff may also request scripts for investigation or for teaching purposes. For the latter, the consent of candidates must be obtained.

Certificates

Certificates are presented in person and collected and signed for.

Certificates can be collected on behalf of a candidate by third parties, provided they have been authorised to do so.

The centre retains certificates for five years.

Certificates

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Should you wish a copy of this or any other policies please call 01827 712477

Head of Centre Exams Officer

............................................................... .................................................................

Monitoring and review This policy was adopted by the Governing Body at its full meeting on 28th March 2011 and reviewed in February 2012, March 2015, February 2018 and will now be reviewed every year. Signed: (Chair of Governors): …………………………………………………………………. Date: ………………………………………………………………………….

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Appendix 1.

Information to Candidates For written examinations effective from 1 September 2017

This notice has been written to help you. Read it carefully and follow the instructions. If there is anything you do not understand, especially which calculator you may use, ask your teacher. A - Regulations - Make sure you understand the rules 1. Be on time for all your examinations. If you are late, your work might not be accepted.

2. Do not become involved in any unfair or dishonest practice during the examination.

3. If you try to cheat, or break the rules in any way, you could be disqualified from all your subjects.

4. You must not take into the exam room:

Notes

Potential technological/web enabled sources of information such as an iPod, a mobile phone, a MP3/4

player, a smart-watch or a wristwatch which has a data storage device.

Any pencil cases taken into the exam room must be see-through.

Remember: possession of unauthorized material is breaking the rules, even if you do not intend to use it,

and you will be subject to penalty and possible disqualification

5. If you wear a wrist watch the invigilator will ask you to remove it and place it on your desk.

6. Do not use correcting pens, fluid or tape, highlighters or gel pens in your answers.

7. Do not talk to or try to communicate with or disturb other candidates once the examination has started.

8. You must not write inappropriate, obscene or offensive material

9. If you leave the examination room unaccompanied by an invigilator before the examination has finished, you will not be allowed to return.

10. Do not borrow anything from another candidate during the examination.

B - Information -Make sure you attend and bring what you need 1. Know the dates and times of all your examinations.

2. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of each examination.

3. If you arrive late for an examination, report to reception/the exam team. Do not enter the exam room unless instructed.

4. If you arrive more than one hour after the published starting time for the examination, you will not normally be allowed to take it.

5. Only take into the examination room the pens, pencils, erasers and any other equipment which you need for the examination.

6. You must write in black ink. Coloured pencils or inks may be used only for diagrams, maps, charts, etc. unless the instructions printed on the front of the question paper state otherwise.

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C - Calculators , Dictionaries and Computer Spell-checkers . 1 . You may use a calculator unless you are told otherwise.

2. If you use a calculator

make sure it works properly; check that the batteries are working properly;

clear anything stored in it;

remove any parts such as cases, lids or covers which have printed instructions or formulas;

do not bring into the examination room any operating instructions or prepared programs.

3. Do not use a dictionary or computer spell checker unless you are told otherwise.

D - Examination Instructions 1 . Listen to the invigilator and follow their instructions at all times. 2. Tell the invigilator at once:

if you think you have not been given the right question paper or all of the materials listed on the front of the paper;

if the question paper is incomplete or badly printed. 3. Read carefully and follow the instructions printed on the question paper and/or on the answer booklet. 4. Fill in all the details required on the front of the question paper and/or the answer booklet before you start the

examination. 5. Remember to write your answers within the designated sections of the answer booklet. 6. Do your rough work on the proper examination stationery. Cross it through and hand it in with your answers. E - Advice and Assistance 1. If on the day of the examination you feel that your work may be affected by ill health or any other reason, tell

the invigilator. 2. Put up your hand during the examination if:

you have a problem and are in doubt about what you should do;

you do not feel well;

you need more paper. 3. You must not ask for, and will not be given, any explanation of the questions. F - The end of the Examination 1. If you have used more than one answer booklet and/or any supplementary answer sheets, place them in the

correct order. Place any loose additional answer sheets inside your answer booklet. Make sure you add your candidate details to any additional answer sheets that you use.

2. Do not look for distractions whilst waiting for the examination to finish

3. Leave the room only when invited to by the lead invigilator

4. Leave in silence and vacate the vicinity of the exam room quickly so as not to disturb others.

5. Do not take from the exam room any stationery. This includes the question paper, answer booklets used or unused, rough work or any other materials provided for the exam.

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Appendix 2. Assessments for Public Examinations Notice to Candidates The following text tells you about some things that you must, and must not, do when you are completing your work. Before you submit any work for marking, you will be asked to sign an authentication statement confirming that you have read and followed these regulations. If there is anything that you do not understand, you must ask your teacher. This work provides you with an opportunity to do some independent research into a topic. The research you will do will involve looking for information in published sources such as textbooks, encyclopaedias, journals, TV, radio and internet. Using information from published sources (including the internet) as the basis for your work is a great way to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of a subject, but you must take care how you use this material - you cannot copy it and claim it as your own work. The regulations state that: The work which you submit for assessment must be your own. You must not copy from someone else or allow another candidate to copy from you. If you use the same wording as a published source, you must place quotation marks around the passage and state where it came from. This is called "referencing". You must make sure that you give detailed references for everything in your work which is not in your own words. A reference should show the name of the author, the year of publication and the page number. For example: (Morrison, 2000, pg. 29.) For material taken from the internet, your reference must show the precise web page, not the search engine used to locate it. This can be copied from the address line. For example: (http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/16/sosteacher/history/49766.shtml) downloaded 5th February 2018. You must also include a bibliography at the end of your work, which lists the full details of publications you have used to research your project. For example: Morrison, A. (2000) "Mary, Queen of Scots", London: Weston Press. If you copy the words or ideas of others and don't show your sources in references and a bibliography, you will be committing plagiarism - and that's cheating. Preparing Your Work - Good Practice If you receive help and guidance from someone other than your teacher, tell your teacher who will record the nature of the assistance given to you. If you worked as part of a group on a project, for example, undertaking field research, you must each write up your own accounts of the project. Even if the data you have is the same, the descriptions of how that data was obtained and the conclusions you draw from it should be in your own words and you must independently draw your own conclusions from the data. You must meet the deadlines that your teacher gives you for submitting drafts and final pieces of work. Your teachers are there to guide and assist you - showing them your work as it progresses will allow you and your teacher time to sort out any problems before it is too late.

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Take care of your work and keep it safe. Don't leave it lying around where your classmates can find it. If it is stored on the computer network, keep your password secure. Collect all copies from the printer and destroy those you don't need. Don't be tempted to use essays from online essay banks - you will be running the risk of being caught out. Electronic tools can detect this sort of copying. You must not write inappropriate, offensive or obscene material. Plagiarism Plagiarism involves taking someone else's words, thoughts or ideas and 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 awarding 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.

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Appendix 3.

Risk Management Process

Risks and Issues Possible Remedial Action

Forward Planning Action Staff

Timetabling

Assessment schedule clashes with other activities

Plan/establish priorities well ahead (e.g. start of academic year) for all subjects or lines of learning.

Plan dates in consultation with calendar – negotiate with other parties school

AB, DiW and CLs

Too many assessments close together across subjects or lines of learning

Plan assessments so they are spaced over the duration of the course

Space assessments to at least allow candidates sometime between assessments

AB, DiW and CLs

Accommodation

Insufficient space in classrooms for candidates

Once group sizes are known at the start of the year, flag instances where regular classroom space may not be suitable to conduct controlled assessment

Use more than one classroom or multiple sittings where necessary

CLs, DiW and MJ

Insufficient facilities for all candidates

Careful planning ahead and booking of rooms/centre facilities

CLs, DiW AB

Downloading awarding body set tasks

The Queen Elizabeth Academy – Internal Assessment

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IT system unavailable on day of assessment

Download tasks well ahead of scheduled assessment date in all cases

Book IT equipment well ahead and download tasks before scheduled date of assessment

Teaching staff unable to access task details

Test secure access rights ahead of schedule every year and every session

Ensure teaching staff have access rights for correct area of awarding body secure extranet sites ahead of time

CLs, DiW

Validity of assessment Check test validity date Make sure task is still valid for the year of entry of the unit

CLs

Loss of task details in transmission

Download tasks well ahead of scheduled assessment date

Report loss to awarding body for replacement; download again

CLs

Absent Candidates

Candidates absent for all or part of assessment (various reasons)

Plan alternative session(s) for candidates and document absences

CLs

Candidates have a scheduling clash for exams or assessment

Always consider candidate timetables well ahead and decide on priorities in advance to scheduling clashes

Check before booking the date; provide an alternative date, where necessary and consult awarding body procedures for dealing with timetabling clashes.

N.B. retakes of controlled assessments are limited and check validity dates

DiW and CLs

Control levels for task taking

Assessment is undertaken under incorrect level of control (time, resources, supervision and collaboration)

Ensure teaching staff know what level is applicable and understand what is involved. Provide training if required

Seek guidance from the awarding body – place on subject meeting agenda

DiW, AB and CLs

Supervision

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Student study diary/plan not provided or completed. (Not all controlled assessment will require the completion of a study diary or plan)

Ensure teaching staff are aware of the need for study diary /plans to be completed early in the course

Ensure candidates start, continue and complete study diary/plans that are signed after every session

CLs

Teaching staff do not understand supervision of controlled assessment is their responsibility

Ensure teaching staff understand nature of controlled assessments and their role in supervision

DiW, AB and CLs – subject meeting agenda

Suitable supervisor has not been arranged for an assessment where teaching staff are not supervising

A suitable supervisor must be arranged for any controlled assessment where a teacher is not supervising, in line with the awarding body specification

DiW, AB and CLs

Task Setting

Teaching staff fail to correctly set tasks

Ensure teaching staff understand the task setting arrangements as defined in the awarding body specification. (All tasks whether set by the awarding body or the centre/consortium must be developed in line with the requirements of the specification).

Seek guidance from the awarding body AB, DiW and CLs

Assessments have not been moderated as required in the awarding body specification

Check specification and plan required moderation appropriately

Seek guidance from the awarding body CLs with DiW and AB

Security of materials

Assessment tasks not kept secure before assessment

Ensure teaching staff understand importance of task security

Request/ obtain different assessment tasks

CLs

Candidates work not kept secure during or after assessment

Define appropriate level of security, in line with awarding body requirements, for each department as necessary

Take materials to secure storage CLs – Exam office

Insufficient or insecure storage space

Look at provision for suitable secure storage early in the course

Find alternative spaces CLs – Exams office

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Deadlines

Deadlines not met by candidates Ensure all candidates are briefed on deadlines/penalties for not meeting them

Mark what candidates have produced by deadline and seek guidance from Awarding Body on further action

CLs and Class teachers

Deadlines for marking and/or paperwork not met by teaching staff

Ensure teaching staff are given clear deadlines (prior to awarding body ones) to complete marking/paperwork so the exams office can process and send off marks ahead of Awarding Body deadlines

Seek guidance from awarding Body CLs

Authentication

Candidate fails to sign authentication form

Ensure all candidates have authentication forms to sign and attach to work when it is completed before handing in

Find candidate and ensure form is signed

CLs

Teaching staff fail to complete authentication forms or leave before completing authentication

Ensure teaching staff understand importance of authentication forms and the requirement of a signature

Return form to staff for signature. Ensure forms are signed as work is marked, not at the end of season

CLs and class teachers

Marking

Teaching staff interpret marking descriptions incorrectly

Ensure appropriate training and practising of marking. Plan for sampling of marking during the practice phase

Arrange for remarking. Consult Awarding Body specification for appropriate procedure

CLs

Centre does not run standardisation activity as required by the awarding body

Plan against the requirements for standardisation for the Awarding Body when and how this activity will be conducted

Check with the Awarding Body whether a later standardisation event can be arranged

CLs ( with DiW)