Category: Sixth Form

Yr13 External Exams

Lisa Hughes

In only 17 school days, the main external examination period will begin. We encourage all of our Yr13 students to  maximise their school day, by working in school from 7:30am-5pm.

The following rooms are available for study

7:30-8am – N block study rooms / Upper and Lower hex

8am-8:45 – Form rooms

All day until 3pm – library / upper hex for silent revision

3pm-5pm – N block study rooms / upper hex

Snacks will be provided for students staying after school to revise.

Students should get into the habit of arriving to school early, to prepare them for the summer exam season, where they will need to be seated in the exam venue at 8:30am. Arriving early also helps to secure a parking spot in the car park!

We recommend that students pause paid work now to focus on their revision. This will give them the additional time to relax and ensure they look after their mental well being too.

As a parent, there are many ways you can support your child through the exam season, see the suggestions from the NHS here. Help your child beat exam stress – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

If you are in any way worried about your child, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the sixth form team, we are all here to support you.

Many thanks

The Sixth Form Team

 

Strike action – 27th April and 2nd May

Natalie McGillivary

The NEU is continuing its industrial action and has announced two more days of strikes: Thursday 27th April and Tuesday 2nd May.

School will be open to different year groups as follows:

  • Thursday 27th April: open for Years 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13 (i.e. Years 7 and 9 will be at home)
  • Tuesday 2nd May: open for Years 7, 10, 11, 12 and 13 (i.e. Years 8 and 9 will be at home)

Please click here to read the full letter.

Summer 2023 contingency days 

Natalie McGillivary

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.