Academic

Internal Examination Week - Reminder

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 11 Examinations Final Information - Reminder

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 
 
 
 

May Challenge Curriculum Calendar

The May Challenge Calendar is live on the Challenge Curriculum Channel in the Whole School Team.

This month's theme is 'Spring'. There are also activities linked to some key events such as Mental Health Awareness week and Deaf Awareness week, among others. 

Pupils can send photos or files to me via Teams linked to any Challenges completed from the Challenge Curriculum, or directly to Mr O'Hara for this month's DT challenge. Merits are always available for pupils who contribute. 

A link to the challenge can be found here.

Julia Lindsay
Challenge Curriculum Co-ordinator (KS3 and KS4)
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