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University Academy Warrington Examination Policy

Principle

At University Academy Warrington, students will gain the best qualifications

recognised by all to credit their achievements and learning

Purpose

• To ensure the planning and management of examinations is conducted

efficiently and in the best interest of candidates.

• to ensure the operation of an efficient examination system with clear

guidelines for all relevant staff

Implementation

Head of Centre

Overall responsibility for the school as an exam centre:

• advises on appeals and re-marks

• the head of centre is responsible for reporting all suspicions or actual

incidents of malpractice. Refer to the JCQ document Suspected malpractice

in examinations and assessments.

The Examination Officer is responsible for

• Advising the senior leadership team, subject and class tutors and other

• relevant support staff on annual examination timetables and application

• procedures as set by the various awarding bodies.

• Overseeing the production and distribution to staff, governors and

candidates

• of an annual calendar for all examinations in which candidates will be

• involved and communicates regularly with staff concerning imminent

• deadlines and events.

• Ensuring all rooms used for examinations adhere to the ‘Instructions for

• Conduct of Examinations’ and are selected to maximise the opportunity for

students to conduct their examinations with minimal disturbance.

• Production of examination timetables and seating lists

• Ensuring that candidates and their parents are informed of and understand

those aspects of the examination timetable that will affect them.

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• Ensuring that candidates are informed of the rules and regulations that

apply to examinations and all forms of assessment

• Consulting with Heads of Department to ensure that necessary coursework

is completed on time and in accordance with Awarding Body guidelines.

• Providing and confirming detailed data on estimated entries.

• Receiving, checking and storing securely all examination papers and •

completed scripts.

• Administering access arrangements and making applications for special

consideration using the JCQ publications: Access arrangements, reasonable

adjustments and special consideration.

• Identifying and managing examination timetable clashes.

• Accounting for income and expenditures relating to all examination

costs/charges.

• Line managing the examination invigilators.

• Submitting candidates' coursework marks, tracking despatch and any other

material required by the appropriate awarding bodies correctly and on

schedule.

• Arranging for dissemination of examination results and certificates to

candidates and forwarding, in consultation with the SLT, any appeals/re-

mark requests.

• Maintaining systems and processes to support the timely entry of candidates

for their examinations.

• Informing the Senior Leader of malpractice in Examination rooms and in

internal assessment.

• Entering s for individual units, whether assessed by controlled assessment,

external exam or on-screen test, before the deadline for final entries.

• Entering s' 'cash-in' codes for the terminal exam series.

• Where confidential materials are directly received by the exams office, to be

responsible for receipt, safe storage and safe transmission, whether in CD or

hard copy format.

• On the few occasions where controlled assessment cannot be conducted in

the classroom arrange suitable accommodation where controlled

assessment can be carried out, at the direction of the senior leadership

team.

• Enter s for individual units, whether assessed by controlled assessment,

external exam or on-screen test, before the deadline for final entries.

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The Senior Leader with responsibility for Examinations is responsible for

• The line management of the Examinations Officer

• Adherence to statutory regulations by the Examinations Officer

• Ensuring value for money in the Examinations budget

• Recruitment and training of Examination invigilators

• Investigating and informing Awarding Bodies in cases of reported

malpractice

• Accountable for the safe and secure conduct of controlled assessments.

Ensure assessments comply with JCQ guidelines and awarding bodies’

subject-specific instructions.

• At the start of the academic year, begin coordinating with heads of

department/subject to schedule controlled assessments. (It is advisable that

controlled assessments be spread throughout the academic years of key

stage 4).

• Map overall resource management requirements for the year. As part of this

resolve:

clashes/ problems over the timing or operation of controlled assessments.

issues arising from the need for particular facilities (rooms, IT networks,

time out of school etc.)

• Ensure that all staff involved have a calendar of events

• Create, publish and update an internal appeals policy for controlled

assessments.

Heads of Department are responsible for

• Choice of awarding body and qualification that will best suit the learners

needs

• Ensuring students are properly prepared for all forms of assessment

• Ensuring students are entered or registered for the correct tier and

qualification

• Ensuring internal and controlled assessment is carried out according to the

awarding body’s specifications

• Decision making on post-results procedures

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• Accurately completing entries, coursework marksheets and declaration

sheets

• Adherence to deadlines set by the Examination Officer

• Storing returned coursework

• Ensure that at least 40% of overall assessment (controlled and/or external

assessment) is taken in the exam series in which the qualification is

certificated, to satisfy the terminal assessment requirement in accordance

with the awarding body specification.

• Standardise internally the marking of all teachers involved in assessing an

internally assessed component.

• Ensure that individual teachers understand their responsibilities with regard

to controlled assessment.

• Ensure that individual teachers understand the requirements of the

awarding body's specification and are familiar with the relevant teachers'

notes, and any other subject specific instructions.

• Where appropriate, develop new assessment tasks or contextualise sample

awarding body assessment tasks to meet local circumstances, in line with

awarding body specifications and control requirements.

Teachers are responsible for

• Ensuring they keep themselves fully informed of the requirements for

assessment

• Prepare students for all forms of assessment

• Identifying malpractice and informing Heads of Department and the

Examination Officer

• Understand and comply with the general guidelines contained in the JCQ

publication Instructions for conducting controlled assessments.

• Understand and comply with the awarding body specification for conducting

controlled assessments, including any subject-specific instructions,

teachers’ notes or additional information on the awarding body’s website.

• Supply to the exams office details of all unit codes for controlled

assessments.

• Obtain confidential materials/tasks set by awarding bodies in sufficient time

to prepare for the assessment(s) and ensure that such materials are stored

securely at all times.

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• Supervise assessments (at the specified level of control). Undertake the tasks

required under the regulations, only permitting assistance to s as the

specification allows.

• Ensure that s and supervising teachers sign authentication forms on

completion of an assessment.

• Mark internally assessed components using the mark schemes provided by

the awarding body. Submit marks through the exams office to the awarding

body when required, keeping a record of the marks awarded.

• Retain candidates’ work securely between assessment sessions (if more than

one).

• Post-completion, retain candidates’ work securely until the closing date for

enquiries about results. In the event that an enquiry is submitted, retain

candidates work securely until the outcome of the enquiry and any

subsequent appeal has been conveyed to the centre.

• Ask the appropriate special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) for any

assistance required for the administration and management of access

arrangements.

The SENCO is responsible for

• Identification and testing of candidates’ requirements for access

arrangements

Invigilators are responsible for

• Invigilating internal and external Examinations in accordance with

‘Instructions for the Conduct of Examinations’

• Attending annual training on Child Protection and ‘Instructions for the

conduct of Examinations’

• Secure transfer of examination material from the Examination Office to

examination rooms and its return.

• Completion of registers and the preparation of completed scripts for

despatch

• Reporting to the Examination Officer any instances of malpractice in the

Examination room

Students are responsible for

• Confirmation of entries and personal details

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• Understanding coursework/controlled assessment regulations and signing a

declaration that authenticates the coursework/controlled assessment as

their own.

• Adherence to the rules and regulations of Public Examinations

Monitoring, Review and Evaluation

The Senior Leader with responsibility for Examinations is accountable for

• Delegated responsibilities as Head of Centre

The Senior Leader with responsibility for Examinations is responsible for

• Analysis of Examination results

• Communication to the Senior Leadership Team and the Governing Body on

the performance of students of University Academy Warrington in Public

Examinations

Senior Leaders are accountable for

• Decisions made within line-managed departments

• Quality control within line-managed departments

Links with other policies

Assessment Recording and Reporting

Child Protection

Charging policy

Appeals

Approvals Signature of Principal: Signature of Chair of Governors:

Date of approval by Governors: 20.3.13 Date of next review: March 2015 Status: Non-Statutory

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Appendices

Appendix A – Qualifications offered at University Academy Warrington

Appendix B – Examination series and associated deadlines

Appendix C – Examination fees and procedures on charging

Appendix D – Disability Discrimination Act, SEN and Access Arrangements

Appendix E – Results, Enquiries about Results and Access to scripts

Appendix F – Procedures

Appendix G – Controlled Assessment

Appendix H - Appeals

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Annex A – Qualifications offered at University Academy Warrington from January

2013

English GCSE English GCSE English Literature GCSE Media Studies Entry Level English Entry Level Creative Media A level English Language & Literature A Level Psychology

AQA AQA WJEC WJEC WJEC WJEC AQA

Maths GCSE Mathematics Linear GCSE Statistics A level Mathematics

Edexcel Edexcel AQA

Science GCSE Science GCSE Triple Science BTEC First Applied Science Level 2 A level Chemistry A level Biology

AQA AQA Edexcel OCR AQA

Humanities GCSE History GCSE Geography GCSE Religious Studies BTEC First Public Services GCSE Business Studies A level History A level Geography Applied A level Business Studies A level Travel & Tourism BTEC National Public Services BTEC First Business Studies

WJEC OCR WJEC EDEXCEL AQA AQA Edexcel AQA AQA EDEXCEL

MFL FCSE Spanish FCSE French GCSE Spanish GCSE French

AQA AQA AQA AQA

Technology GCSE Art GCSE Resistant Materials GCSE Food Technology GCSE Graphic Products BTEC First Art and Design

A level Art BTEC National Art and Design

AQA AQA AQA AQA Edexcel

AQA Edexcel

Performing Arts GCSE Drama GCSE Music GCSE Dance BTEC First Performing Arts BTEC National Photography

Edexcel Edexcel AQA Edexcel Edexcel

ICT OCR Nationals Level 2 OCR

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GCSE Computing BTEC Nationals Level 3

OCR OCR

Sport BTEC First Sport BTEC National Sport Sports Leader Award level 1/2 GCSE PE Football Coaching Level 2/3

Edexcel Edexcel City & Guilds Sport

Others Career Planning CoPE/AoPE Personal Progress Main Awards

ASDAN

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Annex B –

Examination Series & Associated Deadlines 2012-2013 for University Academy

Warrington

Entry Deadline

Amendment without

charge Withdrawal with refund of fee

November 2012

4 October 2012 24 October 2012 25 October 2012

January 2013

21 October 2012 2 14 December 2012

WJEC 21 October 2012 01 December 2010 01 December 2012

March 2013 Edexcel 21 January 2013 04 February 2013 21 February 2013

Summer 2013

GCSE ENTRY

DEADLINE

GCE DEADLINE AMENDS/WITHDRAWAL

S

AQA 21-Feb 21-Mar 21-Apr

WJEC 21-Feb 21-Mar 31-Mar GCSE Only

EDEXCEL 21-Mar 21-Mar 03-Apr

OCR

OCR

21-Feb

21 Mar

21-Mar

21 Apr

BTEC

Registrations 2012

31 October 2012 n/a 31 January 2013

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Annex C – Procedures on charging for Examinations

Candidates or departments will not be charged for changes of tier, withdrawals made by the proper procedures or alterations arising from administrative processes provided these are made within the time allowed by the awarding bodies.

Initial GCSE entry examination fees are paid by the Centre.

Initial AS entry examination fees are paid by the Centre.

Initial A2 entry examination fees are paid by the Centre.

Late entry or amendment fees are paid by the Departments.

Fee reimbursements are sought from candidates who decide to sit an examination after the late entry/withdrawal deadline/fail to sit an examination/do not meet the necessary coursework requirements without medical evidence or evidence of other mitigating circumstances.

Re-sit fees post 16 are charged to candidates

Re-sit fees in Y11 or before are paid for only by the centre if a fails to achieve his/her target grade on the first attempt.

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Annex D - Disability Discrimination Act, SEN and Access Arrangements

All Examination centre staff must ensure that meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), extended in 2005, and the Disability Equality Duty (DED), introduced in 2006.

The DDA introduced measures aimed at eliminating the discrimination often faced by disabled people. The main provisions of the Act give protection to disabled people in the areas of employment and education.

'A person has a disability for the purposes of the DDA if s/he has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on her/his ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

The centre will meet the requirements of the DDA by ensuring that the Examinations centre is accessible and improving candidate experience. This is the

responsibility of the Head of centre.

Access arrangements

The SENCO will inform subject teachers of candidates with special educational needs who are embarking on a course leading to an examination. The SENCO can then inform individual staff of any special arrangements that individual candidates can be granted during the course and in the examination.

A candidate's access arrangements requirement is determined by the Specialist teacher.

Submitting completed access arrangement applications to the awarding bodies is the responsibility of the Examinations Officer

Making access arrangements for candidates to take examinations is the responsibility of the Examinations Officer

Rooming for access arrangement candidates will be arranged by the SENCO with the Examinations Officer

Invigilation and support for access arrangement candidates will be organised by the Examinations Officer

Special consideration

Should a candidate be ill before an exam, suffer bereavement or other trauma, be taken ill during the examination itself or otherwise disadvantaged or disturbed

during an examination, then it is the candidate's responsibility to alert the centre, the examinations officer, or the examination invigilator, to that effect.

The candidate must support any special consideration claim with appropriate evidence within three days of the exam, for example by providing a letter from the candidate's doctor.

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The Examination Officer will forward a completed special consideration form to the relevant awarding body within seven days of the exam.

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Annex E – Results, Enquiries about Results and Access to scripts

Results, enquiries about results (EARs) and access to scripts (ATS)

Candidates will receive individual result slips on results days, either in person at the centre or by post to their home addresses (candidates to provide self-addressed envelope).

Arrangements for the centre to be open on results days are made by the Head of Centre.

EARs

EARs may be requested by centre staff or candidates if there are reasonable grounds for believing there has been an error in marking. The candidates consent is required before any EAR is requested.

If a result is queried, the Senior Leader with responsibility for Examinations will investigate the feasibility of asking for a re-mark at the centre's expense.

When the centre does not support a candidate’s or parent’s request for an EAR, a candidate may apply to have an enquiry carried out. If a candidate requires this against the advice of subject staff, they will be charged.

ATS

After the release of results, candidates may ask subject staff to request the return of papers within three days scrutiny of the results.

Centre staff may also request scripts for investigation or for teaching purposes. For the latter, the consent of candidates must be obtained.

GCSE re-marks cannot be applied for once a script has been returned.

Certificates

Certificates are presented in person or collected and signed for.

Certificates can be collected on behalf of a candidate by third parties, provided they have been authorised to do so.

Certificates are withheld from candidates who owe fees.

The centre retains certificates for four years.

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Annexe F – Procedures

Entries, entry details and late entries

Candidates are selected for their examination entries by the Heads of Department and subject teachers. For Y11 final examinations, initial indication of entries and tiers of entry are made through Assessment Manager in the Attainment Tracker session prior to February of Y11.

Examination Entry lists are printed for Heads of Department. These require a signature to confirm entries before they are sent to the Awarding Body.

The centre accepts entries from external candidates with appropriate fees and with evidence of identity

Entry deadlines are circulated to Heads of Department via Email

Late entries are authorised by Heads of Department and Examination Officer.

GCSE retakes are allowed.

AS retakes are allowed.

A2 retakes are allowed.

Retake decisions will be made in consultation with Candidates, Subject teachers, Learning Manager for the sixth form and Heads of Department.

Estimated grades

Heads of Department are responsible for submitting estimated grades to the Examination Officer when requested.

Managing invigilators

Support staff and external staff are used to invigilate public examinations.

Recruitment of invigilators is the responsibility of the Senior Leader with responsibility for Examinations and the Examination Officer

Securing the necessary Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) clearance for new invigilators is the responsibility of the Personnel Administrator

CRB fees for securing such clearance are paid by the centre.

Invigilators are timetabled and briefed by the Examination Officer

Invigilators rates of pay are set by the Local Authority

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Exam days

The Examination Officer will book all examination rooms after liaison with other users and make the question papers, other examination stationery and materials available for the invigilators.

Site management is responsible for setting up the allocated rooms.

The lead invigilator will start all examinations in accordance with the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) guidelines.

Subject staff may be present at the start of the examination to assist with identification of candidates but must not advise on which questions or sections are to be attempted.

In practical examinations subject teachers may be on hand in case of any technical difficulties.

Examination papers must not be read by subject teachers or removed from the examination room before the end of a session. Papers will be distributed to Heads of Department at the end of the examination.

A relevant subject teacher may be available to read out any subject-specific instructions and start the examination, if required.

Candidates

The centre's published rules on acceptable dress, behaviour and candidates' use of mobile phones and other electronic devices apply at all times.

Candidates' personal belongings remain their own responsibility and the centre accepts no liability for their loss or damage.

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 Examination Officer or senior invigilator.

Candidates may only leave the examination room for a genuine purpose and are required to return immediately to the examination room. They must be accompanied by a member of staff at all times.

The Examination Officer is responsible for handling late or absent candidates on examination day or subsequently.

Clash candidates

The Examination Officer will be responsible as necessary for supervising escorts, identifying a secure venue and arranging overnight stays.

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Appendix G – Controlled Assessment

Example risks and issues

Possible remedial action Staff

Forward planning Action

Timetabling

Assessment schedule

clashes with other activities

Plan/establish priorities well ahead

(e.g. start of academic year) for all

subjects or lines of learning

Plan dates in consultation with

school calendar – negotiate with

other parties

Examination

Officer consulted

Senior Leader

accountable

Heads of

Department to be

responsible

Subject teachers to

be informed

Too many assessments

close together across

subjects or lines of learning

Plan assessments so they are spaced

over the duration of the course

Space assessments to at least

allow candidates some time

between assessments

Examination

Officer consulted

Heads of

Department to be

responsible

Accommodation

Insufficient space in Once group sizes are known at the Use more than one classroom or Heads of

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classrooms for candidates start of the year, flag instances where

regular classroom space may not be

suitable to conduct controlled

assessment

multiple sittings where necessary Department to be

responsible

Examination

Officer consulted

Insufficient facilities for all

candidates

Careful planning ahead and booking of

rooms / centre facilities

Examination

Officer

consulted/inform

ed

Downloading awarding body set tasks

IT system unavailable on

day of assessment

Download tasks well ahead of

scheduled assessment date in all cases

Book IT equipment well ahead and

download tasks before scheduled

date of assessment

Heads of

Department

responsible

Senior Leader

accountable

Teaching staff/assessors

unable to access task

details

Test secure access rights ahead of

schedule every year and every session

Ensure teaching staff/assessors

have access rights for correct area

of awarding body secure extranet

sites ahead of time

Heads of

Department

responsible

Examination

Officer responsible

Loss of task details in

transmission

Download tasks well ahead of

scheduled assessment date

Report loss to awarding body for

replacement; download again

Examination

Officer responsible

Heads of

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Department

responsible

Absent candidates

Candidates absent for all or

part of assessment

(various reasons)

Plan alternative session(s) for

candidates

Heads of

Department

responsible

Candidates have a

scheduling clash for exams

or assessment (possibly

offsite on consortium

teaching)

Always consider candidate timetables well ahead and decide on priorities in advance to scheduling clashes

Check before booking the date;

provide an alternative date, where

necessary and consult awarding

body procedures for dealing with

timetabling clashes

N.B. retakes of controlled

assessment are limited

Heads of

Department

responsible

Examination

Officer responsible

Senior Leader

accountable

Control levels for task taking

Assessment is undertaken

under incorrect level of

control (time, resources,

supervision and

collaboration)

Ensure teaching staff/assessors know

what level is applicable and

understand what is involved. Provide

training if required

Seek guidance from the awarding

body

Heads of

Department

responsible

Supervision

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study diary/plan not

provided or completed*

Ensure teaching staff/assessors are

aware of the need for study

diary/plans to be completed early in

course

Ensure candidates start, continue

and complete study diary/plans

that are signed after every session

Subject teachers

responsible

Teaching staff/assessors do

not understand supervision

of controlled assessment is

their responsibility

Ensure teaching staff/assessors

understand nature of controlled

assessments and their role in

supervision

Heads of

Department

responsible

Suitable supervisor has not

been arranged for an

assessment where teaching

staff/assessors are not

supervising

A suitable supervisor must be

arranged for any controlled

assessment where a teacher/assessor

is not supervising, in line with the

awarding body specification.

Examination

Officer responsible

Task setting

Teaching staff/assessors

fail to correctly set tasks

Ensure teaching staff/assessors

understand the task setting

arrangements as defined in the awarding

body specification**

Seek guidance from the

awarding body

Heads of

Department

responsible

Assessments have not been

moderated as required in

the awarding body

specification

Check specification and plan required

moderation appropriately

Seek guidance from the

awarding body

Heads of

Department

responsible

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Security of materials

Assessment tasks not kept

secure before assessment

Ensure teaching staff understand

importance of task security

Request/obtain different

assessment tasks

Heads of

Department

responsible

Examination

Officer responsible

Candidates’ work not kept

secure during or after

assessment

Define appropriate level of security, in

line with awarding body requirements,

for each department as necessary

Take materials to secure storage Heads of

Department

responsible

Examination

Officer responsible

Insufficient or insecure

storage space

Look at provision for suitable storage

early in the course

Find alternative spaces Senior Leader

accountable

Deadlines

Deadlines not met by

candidates

Ensure all candidates are briefed on

deadlines/penalties for not meeting

them

Mark what candidates have

produced by deadline and seek

guidance from awarding body on

further action.

Heads of

Department

responsible

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Deadlines for marking

and/or paperwork not met

by teaching staff/

assessors

Ensure teaching staff/assessors are

given clear deadlines (prior to awarding

body ones) to complete

marking/paperwork so the exams

office can process and send off marks

ahead of AB deadlines

Seek guidance from awarding body

Heads of

Department

responsible

Authentication

Candidate fails to sign

authentication form

Ensure all candidates have

authentication forms to sign and attach

to work when it is completed before

handing in

Find candidate and ensure form

is signed

Heads of

Department

responsible

Teaching staff/assessors

fail to complete

authentication forms or

leave before completing

authentication

Ensure teaching staff/assessors

understand importance of

authentication forms and the

requirement of a signature

Return form to staff for signature.

Ensure forms are signed as work

is marked, not at end of season

Heads of

Department

responsible

Marking

Teaching staff/assessors

interpret marking

descriptions incorrectly

Ensure appropriate training and

practicing of marking. Plan for

sampling of marking during the practice

phase.

Arrange for remarking. Consult

awarding body specification for

appropriate procedure

Heads of

Department

responsible

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Centre does not run

standardisation activity as

required by the awarding

body

Plan against the requirements for

standardisation for the awarding body

when and how this activity will be

conducted.

Check with the awarding body

whether a later standardisation

event can be arranged.

Heads of

Department

responsible

Senior Leader

accountable

Aspire ● Believe ● Achieve

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Appendix H

INTERNAL APPEALS ABOUT ASSESSMENT DECISIONS

Sometimes a candidate may not agree with the coursework marks awarded by a teacher.

If the disagreement cannot be resolved by discussion between the teacher and candidate

concerned, then the candidate may appeal to the Examinations Officer, who will put into

action the agreed appeals process. This will be the final stage in the normal process of

considering and resolving disputes. It is expected that it will be used only in exceptional

circumstances.

1. The Examinations officer is in overall charge of managing appeals relating to internal

assessments.

2. If a wishes to appeal about his/her internal assessment marks, then the

following procedures should be followed:

• The appeal should be made in writing to the exams officer stating the details of the

complaint and the reasons for the appeal

• The appeal must be submitted before the end of the first week in May of the year

in

which the written examinations are taken

3. The teacher(s) concerned in marking the assessment which is the subject of the

appeal

will respond to the appeal in writing to the exams officer; a copy will be given to the

candidate.

4. If the candidate is not happy with the written response they have received, then they

can request a personal hearing before an appeals panel.

• The appeals panel will consist of the exams officer and two of the following:

the Head of Year, Deputy Principal, an Academy Governor.

• The request for a personal hearing must be made within two days of receipt of the

written reply to the initial appeal.

• The candidate will be given at least two days’ notice of the hearing date.

• A breakdown of the marks awarded will be given to the candidate in advance of

the

appeal.

• The candidate may bring a parent/guardian to the hearing.

• The teacher(s) involved will be present at the hearing.

• The Examinations Officer will convey the outcome of an appeal and the reasons for

that outcome in writing to the candidate.

• The Academy will maintain a written record of all appeals.

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• The Academy will inform the awarding bodies (examining boards) of any change to

an internally assessed mark as a result of an appeal.

APPEALS AGAINST INTERNAL ASSESSMENT OF WORK FOR EXTERNAL

QUALIFICATIONS

University Academy Warrington is committed to ensuring that whenever its staff assess

s’ work for external qualification this is done fairly, consistently and in accordance with

the specification for the qualification concerned. Assessments are conducted by staff

who have appropriate knowledge, understanding and skills, and who have been trained

in this activity. The centre is committed to ensuring that assessment evidence provided

by candidates is produced and authenticated according to the requirements of the

relevant specifications for each subject. Where a set of work is divided between staff,

internal moderation and standardisation will ensure consistency.

If a feels that this may not have happened in relation to his/her work, s/he may make

use of this appeals procedure. Note that appeals may only be made against the process

that led to the assessment and not against the mark or grade submitted by the centre for

moderation by the awarding body.

This procedure is available from the Examinations Officer and is posted on the Academy

website.

1. Appeals should be made as early as possible and at least two weeks before the end

of the last externally assessed paper in the examination series (e.g. 9th June where the

last GCSE written paper in the June GCSE exam series is 23rd June)

2. Appeals should be made in writing by the candidate’s parent/carer to the

Examinations Officer, who will investigate the appeal with at least two other members of

staff who have not been involved in the internal assessment decision. If the

Examinations Officer was directly involved in the assessment in question, the Principal

will appoint another member of staff of similar or greater seniority to conduct the

investigation. Likewise, if the Examinations Officer is not able to conduct the

investigation for some other reason.

3. The purpose of the appeal will be to decide whether the process used for the internal

assessment conformed to the published requirement of the awarding body and the

examinations code of practice of the QCA.

4. You will be informed in writing of the outcome of the appeal, including any relevant

correspondence with the awarding body and any changes made to the procedure relating

to internal assessment.

5. The outcome of the appeal will be made known to the Principal and will be logged as

a complaint. A written record will be kept and made available to the awarding body upon

request. Should the appeal bring any significant irregularity to light, the awarding body

will be informed.

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After work has been assessed internally, it is moderated by the awarding body to ensure

consistency between centres. Such moderation frequently changes the marks awarded

for internally assessed work. That is outside the control of University Academy

Warrington and is not covered by this procedure. If you have concerns about it, please

ask the Examinations Officer for a copy of the appeals procedure of the relevant

awarding body.

Approvals Signature of Principal: Signature of Chair of Governors: Date of approval by Governors: 20.3.13 Date of next review: March 2015 Status: Non-Statutory