Summer 2023 contingency days 

The awarding bodies have collectively agreed a contingency day for several years now which is always scheduled at the end of the GCSE and A’ Level exam timetables.

The contingency day is in the event of national or significant local disruption to exams in the UK, being part of the awarding bodies’ standard contingency planning for exams.

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, further resilience was needed within the exam timetables. A single contingency day was not felt to be sufficient if a national event or incident had a significant effect on the exam timetable. For example, summer exams could be affected by extremely high temperatures.

For the June 2023 exams, the awarding bodies have therefore introduced two additional half-day contingency sessions. These are on Thursday 8th June 2023 and Thursday 15th June 2023. The standard contingency day remains at the end of the timetable being scheduled on Wednesday 28th June 2023.

Schools and colleges should ensure candidates and parents are aware of the contingency arrangements on these three days. They should consider the contingency day of Wednesday 28th June 2023 when making their plans for the summer. Candidates should be encouraged to remain available until Wednesday 28th June 2023 should examinations need to be rescheduled.

Work Experience Opportunity at Sellafield, Warrington – Nuclear Design Engineering

Opportunities for Y11, Y12 and Y13 students to take part in the Work Experience programme at Sellafield Ltd, in Risley, Warrington are available. Students will undertake a week-long placement solving real engineering problems. They will gain awareness in Process, Mechanical, Control, Electrical & Instrumentation and Civil & Structural Engineering Design as well as meeting with members of Sellafield’s Operational Research Analyst team. They will experience exciting and rewarding challenges with a clear vision of the future opportunities available in engineering. They will also gain valuable employability skills for future employment and education/training providers. Working as a project team they will experience first-hand how to use STEM subjects to work on a ground-breaking project alongside nuclear industry’s experts.

Student’s interested in applying to this placement, should return the application found here to spoc.work.experience@sellafieldsites.com by 30th May 2023. See the available dates below. On returning this document, please advise the best dates to attend. Sellafield recommend you advise more than one week due to availability.

Sellafield Summer Work Experience Programme

  • WC 10.07.23      Year 11
  • WC 17.07.23      Year 12/13
  • WC 24.07.23      Year 11
  • WC 31.07.23      Year 12/13
  • WC 07.08.23      Year 11
  • WC 14.08.23      Year 12/13
  • WC 21.08.23      Year 12/13

University Student Finance

University student finance applications are now open. Please view the following two guides for more information:

Student Loans – FAQs

Understanding Student Loans – Overview​​​

You may also find the following video useful for understanding how to apply:

Understanding your student loan: a guide for English students starting an undergraduate course 2023 – YouTube

Students are advised to apply by 19th May to ensure that funding is in place for the start of their course. Please see the link below for information relating to timescales for applying

Student finance: get ready for 2023 to 2024! – Get ready for 2023 to 2024!