Exams policy

Candidates

• the provision manager will provide written information to candidates in advance of each exam series. A formal briefing session for candidates may be given by the tutors
• the centre's published rules on acceptable dress and behaviour apply at all times. Candidates' personal belongings remain their own responsibility. The centre accepts no liability for their loss or damage
• in an exam room candidates must not have access to items other than those clearly allowed in the instructions on the question paper, the stationery list, or the specification for that subject. This is particularly true of mobile phones and other electronic communication or storage devices with text or digital facilities. Any precluded items must not be taken into an exam room
• 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
• candidates who leave an exam room must  always be accompanied by an appropriate member of staff
• the exams officer is responsible for handling late or absent candidates on exam day

Clash candidates

The exams officer will be responsible as necessary for:

• supervising escorts
• identifying a secure venue
• arranging overnight stays

Special consideration

• it is the candidate's responsibility to alert the centre's exams officer if they are unable to attend an exam because of:
  • illness
  • suffering bereavement or other trauma
  • illness or otherwise disadvantaged or disturbed during an exam
• the candidate must support any special consideration claim with appropriate evidence within three days of the exam
• the exams officer will make a special consideration application to the relevant awarding body within seven days of the exam

On demand assessments

• the provision manager requests the papers for learners when they are ready to take the assessments in line with the supplied schedule
• on demand assessments should be ordered by the exams officer
• exam papers are securely stored at the InspireU Grantham site until the day of the exam when they are:
  • transported in a locked case, or
  • posted special delivery to the site where the assessment is to be completed
• in conjunction with specific awarding body regulations, exams can be posted to site via special delivery
• exams should be completed within pre-agreed examination windows, unless prior authorisation has been given from a senior lead and the head of centre is aware
• exams are completed in allocated examination rooms and are invigilated by a trained invigilator in line with the JCQ guidance
• completed exams and any unused papers are sent directly from the site to the awarding body. The attendance list is completed by the exams officer, provision manager or invigilator

Controlled assessments

• the provision manager, in consultation with the quality lead or exams officer, is responsible for the safe and secure conduct of controlled assessments
• the senior lead responsible for teaching and learning will be responsible for providing the exams officer with full details, including codes for all assessments
• the exams officer will consult with provision managers to schedule controlled assessments in order to co-ordinate the timing and requirements for all assessments
• tutors are responsible for ensuring that at least 40% of overall assessment is taken in the exam series in which the qualification is certificated in order to satisfy the terminal assessment requirement in accordance with awarding body specification
• the senior lead responsible for teaching and learning, with support of the exams officer, will standardise internally the marking of all teachers involved in assessing an internally assessed component They will ensure that they are aware of their responsibilities and the requirements of the awarding body
• the senior lead responsible for teaching and learning, where appropriate, develop new assessment tasks or contextualize sample awarding body assessment tasks to meet local circumstances, in line with awarding body specifications and control requirements
• the senior lead responsible for teaching and learning, with support from the exams officer, will:
  • obtain confidential materials and tasks set by awarding bodies in sufficient time to prepare for the assessment
  • ensure that such materials are stored securely at all times
• the senior lead responsible for teaching and learning will ensure that tutors and provision managers:
  • understand their responsibilities with regard to controlled assessments
  • understand the requirements of the awarding body's specification
  • are familiar with the relevant teachers' notes and any other subject specific instructions
• tutors and provision managers will be aware of and comply with the general guidelines detailed within the JCQ publication 'Instructions for conducting controlled assessments'
• tutors will supervise assessments (at the specific level of control) and undertake the tasks required under the regulations, only permitting assistance to students as the specification allows
• the senior lead responsible for teaching and learning with the support of the exams officer will ensure that students and supervising teachers sign authentication forms on completion of an assessment
• after marking the components using the mark schemes provided by the awarding bodies, the tutors should submit marks through the provision manager. The provision manager will liaise with the senior lead responsible for teaching and learning, keeping a record of the marks awarded on the MIS system
• tutors should retain work securely:
  • between assessment sessions
  • until the closing date for enquiries about results
• tutors and provision managers will be informed of students eligible for special arrangements by the exams officer following liaison with the additional needs specialist. Tutors and provision managers should make the necessary arrangements and inform the students
• it is the duty of the provision manager to ensure that all internal assessment is ready for dispatch at the correct time. The exams officer will assist by keeping a record of each dispatch, including the recipient details and the date and time sent
• marks for all internally assessed work are provided to the exams office by the tutors. The exams officer will inform staff of the date when appeals against internal assessments must be made by. Any appeals will be dealt with in accordance with the centre’s internal appeals procedure (IAP) document
• all internal quality processes and documentation relating to exam process should be stored in one central folder on each site. For example, seating plan and posting evidence .  The provision manager has responsibility of maintaining and updating this folder, which the exams officer will audit periodically