The joint council for qualifications (JCQ) has published a series of regulations regarding the conduct of examinations. All students have a responsibility to read them.

Please click here to be taken to the JCQ website.

Mobile Phones – Malpractice

Under no circumstances are phones allowed in exam rooms. This is regarded as malpractice by the exam boards regardless of intention. The penalty for a student found in possession of a mobile phone that is switched off is a 0 mark for the paper. If the phone is found to be switched on, the penalty is disqualification from the entire exam subject.

Late Arrivals

To help you, we can send out your timetable by email and send a text reminder. Please make sure we have the most up to date email address and mobile phone number for you.

If a student arrives one hour after the starting time of the actual exam, the exam paper is unlikely to be accepted by the exam board. To have a better chance of having the exam paper accepted the student should arrive under the supervision of a parent/guardian (who should take possession of the student's mobile phone). The accompanying parent/guardian should escort the student to the Exams Officer. This will help demonstrate the student has not had any communication or contact with any other candidate.

However for mock exams a student arriving later than 15 minutes after the exam starting time will not be admitted into the exam room.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION – JCQ Exam Contingency means that in the event of national disruption exams will take place at another time, up to the end of June. Candidates should be available to sit any postponed exams during this time, and any actions that make the candidate unavailable during that period are taken at their own risk, e.g. if a candidate goes on holiday before the end of June and an exam is postponed to a date they are away the candidate will not be eligible for special consideration.

Absence / Special consideration

If a student is absent from an exam we will attempt to contact them and/or parent/carer (providing the contact details we have are current) to find out where the student is, and what options they have.

If there is a medical reason for absence / ill-health, you can apply for special consideration but the exam board will need supporting medical evidence which includes:

• The candidate's name
• The illness/condition the candidate has/had
• The effects it had on the candidate, and reason the candidate is not capable of taking an exam

The supporting evidence must be dated, or cover the date the candidate was absent from the exam.

It must have the name and occupation of a medical doctor/consultant who is supplying this evidence.

Candidates have up to seven days after their last exam in the summer to provide this medical evidence.

If absence is because of something serious but not medical, please contact the exams officer immediately to find out what options are possible.

Conduct in Examinations

These rules apply to all examinations for students in KS4 and above and are derived from the rules for public examinations set by the Joint Council for Qualifications.

• You must be on time for your exams
• You must wear your ID badge
• You must not become involved in any unfair or dishonest practice as part of the examination
• You may take into the examination room only the materials and equipment you are allowed
• You may not have any writing, decorative or otherwise, on your body
• Your equipment must be in a see-through pencil case. You may only use a calculator if permitted in the exam
• You must not take into the examination room any unauthorised materials or equipment such as notes, MP3/4 players, mobile phones, watches or internet communication devices. If you take it to your place, even if you do not intend to use it, you are breaking examination rules and you may be subject to disqualification
• Invigilators may ask to check that you have no earphones in your ears as you go into the exam. If your ears are not easily visible exam staff may ask you to show them your ears. A private room may be arranged on request.
• You need to write with black ink and you cannot use correction fluid or colours on your answer paper unless this is specified
• You must not talk or communicate with other candidates in any way with other candidates until you have been dismissed and are outside the examination room. You must not disturb other candidates during the exam
• You cannot borrow equipment from other candidates during the exam
• If you leave the examination hall unsupervised you will not be allowed back in to the examination room
• You must remove all labels from drink bottles before you take them into the exam room
• You are not permitted to leave to go to the toilet during exams less than one hour in length
• You must follow the instructions and requests of the invigilators. You may not leave the examination room without their permission

Malpractice

Breaking the examination code of conduct is malpractice. The school is obliged to report malpractice to the examination body and the examination body will decide on the penalty.

Be polite to invigilators and fully co-operate. Not following their instructions is malpractice and you could be disqualified for it. Being rude to staff during exams is malpractice, and you could be disqualified for it.

Exam timetables

Timetables for exams in November, January and Summer will be sent in hard copy as a statement of entry to your home address. The dates, times and information on it comes directly from exam boards.

However, if it is useful to you to have your exam timetable (both mock and actual) emailed, and to recieve text reminders for upcoming exams, please update your email and phone numbers to make sure we can send them to you.

You can update this information by providing proof of any changes to home address or contact details to WES school reception (for Year 10/11) / LaSWAP building Centre Manager (for Sixth Form)

Exam Clashes

If you are unsure about what to do, please go and see your exams officer or email them.

Year 10/11 students who have an exam clash will be placed in supervision to enable them to take both exams. While in supervision students will not have access to any revision notes or electronic devices.

Sixth Form students who have an exam clash between centres will be notified by the exams officer at their base school by letter (and email) and must follow the instructions as to which school they have to attend first, as staffing and supervision has been arranged at that centre and they will be expecting you.

A student who breaks supervision at any point will not be permitted to finish any of the remaining clash papers

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