Assessments & Exams
Key Stage 3
Internal assessments in lessons
Students will sit internal assessments that continually assess their knowledge, skills and understanding as they progress through the year. The curriculum followed by students will often revisit similar skills, building and progressing on these as they progress through the Key Stage. Assessments are designed with this in mind.
All students sit end of year exams in the summer term.
Key Stage 4
External assessments
The large majority of exams take place in the summer term, however, many vocational courses have modular structures that require either coursework or examined units to be completed throughout the duration of the course. You will be informed of these in advance. These directly count towards a student’s final grade. There are time restraints for completion set by the exam board so attendance to lessons is paramount for all students.
Mock exams
As well as internal assessments end of year exams are completed in the summer of Year 10.
In Year 11 mock exams are held in October, December and March. Students are provided with timetables in advance.
Class sets & Bands
At Key Stage 3 we operate two parallel bands of equal ability known as X and Y band. Within each of these bands, students are timetabled into classes for different subjects.
In core subjects to include English. Maths, Science and Humanities (Geography/ History and RE), students are set by ability using a range of data to include their KS2 scores from Primary School, GL Assessment scores and ongoing assessment data completed during and at the end of the year.
In all other subjects, students are in mixed ability classes where the class set number is assigned to balance all cohort factors and is not linked to targets or attainment.
At Key Stage 4 we operate two parallel bands of equal ability known as X and Y band. Within each of these bands, students are timetabled into classes for their core subjects to include Maths, English, Science, Humanities and PE.
In option subjects’ pupils are placed into a class based on their option choice within each block- A, B or C. Option classes are usually mixed ability due to the student numbers and classes timetabled at that time.
In core subjects to include English. Maths, Science and Humanities (Geography/ History), students are set by ability using a range of data to include their KS2 scores from Primary School, GL Assessment scores and ongoing assessment data completed during and at the end of the year.
Exam boards
Please see below should you require the Examination Board and Specification that your child is following in each of their Key Stage 4 subjects:
| Subject | Examination Board |
|---|---|
| English Language | Edexcel |
| English Literature | AQA |
| Maths | Edexcel |
| Science Combined and Triple | AQA |
| Geography | AQA |
| History | Edexcel |
| French | AQA |
| German | AQA |
| Computer Science | OCR |
| Art & Design | OCR |
| Statistics | Edexcel |
| Physical Education | OCR |
| Philosophy and Ethics | OCR |
| Music | OCR |
| Design and Technology | Edexcel |
| Food and Nutrition | OCR |
| Business Studies | Edexcel |
| Media Studies | WJEC |
| BTEC Sport | Pearsons |
| BTEC Heath and Social Care | Pearsons |
| BTEC Travel and Tourism | Pearsons |
| BTEC Performing Arts | Pearsons |
| Cambridge National Creative iMedia | OCR |
| Cambridge National Marketing and Enterprise | OCR |
| City and Guilds Hair and Beauty Level 2 | City & Guilds |
Exam Information:
To see JCQ exam regulation documents please click below.