Senior School Examination Sessions

Students throughout the year are assessed on their learning and attainment. Much of this is formative and helps students and teachers with what they need to improve and to assess current progress. Tests and examinations on occasion can be summative to give both an indication of their attainment at a certain point in time. This also informs all and prepares them for future summative assessments such as at IGCSE and A’level.

As students will have to learn key knowledge and develop skills over longer periods of time it is helpful for students to take examinations such as annuals where they are assessed on the work undertaken during terms 1 and 2. These tests in terms of format and questions asked, build on practice during the year. Teachers will always assist them in the areas of study and with revision and study skills as we encourage learners to be self-sufficient and independent in their work which is a key development over the year.

This week and next our year 10 students have been undertaking ‘mock examinations’ in all their IGCSE studies to help prepare them for the real examinations’ in Year11 in May/June 2027. As such they experience what it is like to sit in an examination style hall and to be subject to the same expectations.  Students need to experience this so that they get used to the experience.

Therefore, in the following weeks Years 7-9 will also undertake annual examinations assessing them on work done in Terms 1 and 2. To help them get used to examination hall their exams in Mathematics, the Sciences and English will be sat formally in examination style halls.

During the relevant weeks the core subjects will sit 

• On the Monday morning Physics and Chemistry
• On the Monday afternoon Biology
• On the Tuesday morning Mathematics and English.

From Tuesday afternoon the students will have their normal lessons and examinations will be sat in normal lessons testing work studied over terms 1 and 2 in the foundations subjects . Therefore, each examination will last 40 minutes (a lesson time).

Students (and Parents) will receive a report card later in the term which will indicate their percentage mark in each exam and also their overall attainment grade for the year following moderation of all papers and work.

A reminder that as is in the calendar the examination weeks for each year cohort are:

• Year 9 – beginning 4 May
• Year 8 – beginning 11 May
• Year 7 -beginning 18 May

 The Principal