Internal Examination Week

In the week before May half-term, Monday 20 to Friday 25 May, we will be conducting an internal examination week. For this period pupils will not be in normal lessons but will instead be using the time to revise and to take a series of assessments across their subjects. All year groups will continue to have their Games afternoon during this period.

For Lower Sixth students and Year 10 pupils we will be using the opportunity to begin preparations for public examinations next summer, helping them to become familiar with the formality of examinations and to have a taste of an examination hall environment, alongside any individual exam access arrangements.

For Years 7 to 9 the experience will be less formal and papers will be shorter in length, with pupils working in classrooms throughout and engaging in practical Art and Technology sessions. Their assessments will provide the chance to revisit content and to demonstrate how much they have learnt this year.

All pupils should plan to revise in preparation for these assessments and will receive generic advice from the school alongside specific guidance from each subject. After half-term we will publish results and give feedback so that all pupils know how to improve in their future studies.

Michael Spencer
Deputy Head - Academic

Year 8 And 9 360 Review Evening

Thank you for joining us at last night’s Year 8 and 9 360 Review Evening.

A recording of the main presentation can be seen here.

If you have any feedback about the event, please use this form.

Michael Spencer

Deputy Head – Academic

Year 11 Examinations Final Information

As we approach the beginning of the examination season, we wanted to provide some final notes about arrangements for Year 11.

Examination Timetables
Year 11 pupils have already received their examination timetables and know how to view these on My School Portal. These are also visible to parents from the left-hand menu on My School Portal. Roomings will be added closer to the examinations.

Study Leave 
From Friday 3 May, pupils are not required to be on-site except when they have an examination. They may choose whether they work at home, in school or a combination of the two.

Study Leave Registration
In order to know who is on site at any time, Year 11 pupils will need to sign-in and out of school if arriving/leaving during the school day. For those wishing to leave school after an examination, we would request that they are collected in specified windows so that we can control traffic on the playground during the school day.

Pupils arriving for a morning examination will be registered in the exam room
Pupils arriving to a study room for Period 1 will be registered in the room
Pupils arriving at any other time of day should sign in at the Pupil Hub
Pupils leaving after an examination can sign-out on the playground and be collected by parents at the times shown in the table below.

Parents are not required to sign-out pupils when collecting them, but please do send your child a text when you have arrived so that they can show the Student Hub staff before leaving the premises. Similarly, if your child is being collected by another parent, when leaving school during the day after an exam, please email in advance to attendance@princethorpe.co.uk with the details.

Examination Playground Pick-up Times
Please click here for pick-up times.

Study Rooms
Study rooms will be published to pupils before Study Leave and will appear on their timetables on My School Portal from Monday 13 May. The Learning Support department will speak to some pupils about alternative arrangements as appropriate.
 
Examination Day Protocol
Year 11 pupils should all attend examinations in correct uniform. They should use their lockers to store bags and revision materials when in an examination so that they are not bringing any forbidden items into the examination hall. Mobile phones accounted for 44% of malpractice cases nationally last year and it is essential that they are not in the room, even if switched off.
 
Unforeseen Events And Special Consideration
If your child is ill, injured or delayed in getting to school, please communicate with attendance@princethorpe.co.uk as normal and copy in the examinations office examinations@princethorpe.co.uk as quickly as possible so that we can offer the best advice and make any necessary arrangements to support. For pupils affected by illness or other circumstances such as bereavement, we are able to apply for Special Consideration from the examination boards if certain criteria are met. Please communicate any such issues to Heads of House and the examinations office if they arise.

Book Return
Year 11 pupils will need to return all of their textbooks and other loaned equipment before the summer and so we ask that this is done following the last examination taken by the whole year group. We will write to you nearer the time with details of exact timings.

Finally, all of our best wishes go to all of those sitting examinations, and to those supporting them as they prepare to do so.

Michael Spencer
Deputy Head - Academic

April Challenge Curriculum Calender

The April Challenge Calendar is now available in the Challenge Curriculum Channel on the Whole School Team.

April is Earth Month, and most of the activities are linked to this theme. I hope pupils enjoy exploring the activities provided - I have included icons this month to show if it is a watch, listen or read activity.

A link to the challenge can be found here.

Julia Lindsay

Challenge Curriculum Co-ordinator (KS3 and KS4)

Year 7 Subject Progress Evening (Online)

The Year 7 Subject Progress Evening will take place online on Wednesday 1 May, from 5.00pm to 8.30pm. Details of how to book appointments will be emailed week commencing 22 April 2024.

Michael Spencer

Deputy Head - Academic

External Examinations 2024 - Reminder

Summer Exam Season

All pupils have been given their personal exam statement of entry. Timetables can be viewed on the pupil and parent portals. Nearer the time of exams, room and seating arrangement information will be made available.

A few pupils have exam clashes and they have all now been contacted via Teams to discuss a resolution. A clash of exams only occurs when two exams for different subjects are timetabled to start at the same time on the same day.

Where two exams for the same subject are timetabled to start at the same time on the same day, they will be taken one after the other. This applies to GCSE History, IGCSE French, IGCSE Spanish and A-level Maths.

All candidates have now received an email with a link to the Candidate Handbook, which contains important information about the summer exam season. A copy of the Candidate Handbook can be accessed here.

Sarah Tsang

Examinations Officer