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Key Staff

if you have any further questions about exams, please contact the following staff:

Mrs L. Collins

Data & Exams Manager

Exams

All examinations, including mock examinations, are run in line with Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) regulations and procedures. The key rules are summarised in posters displayed outside the examination rooms, and all candidates are expected to be familiar with and adhere to them. Mock examinations are conducted under the same conditions as public examinations to provide an authentic exam experience; however, breaches of regulations during mocks are managed internally and do not result in official JCQ sanctions.

Rules & Policies

The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) documents listed below are ESSENTIAL READING for all students.

The notices informs of what is permitted/not permitted in the examination room, what behaviour is expected and what to do if help is required during an examination. 

Ferndown Upper School staff and invigilators do not set the rules, but they are responsible to the JCQ for enforcing them. Strict penalties are applied to anyone breaking them. This could mean disqualification from a paper, an examination, or even a whole examination series. Please read them carefully and if anything is unclear, ask a member of staff or the exams office.

Also available are the notices regarding Non-Examined Assessments. Students undertaking these assessments should read these notices carefully and share them with parents/guardians. Again, if anything is unclear, please ask before starting the assessment.

JCQ Information

Information for candidates – guidance explaining student responsibilities, covering everything from coursework submission requirements and referencing guidelines to examination conduct and the use of social media during assessment periods – can be found here: JCQ.org.uk/exams-office/information-for-candidates.

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Exam Policy Information

Internal Examinations

Below is an overview of internal examinations taking place during the school year.

  • Y9 Mock Timetable
  • Y10 Mock Timetable
  • There are currently no mock exams taking place

External Examinations

Below is an overview of external exams taking place during the summer term.

Results & Certificates

A-Level
Thursday 13th August 2026

GCSE
Thursday 20th August 2026

Certificates
Available for collection from Reception after 1st December 2026

Examinations Information Booklet

Frequently Asked Questions

This is your chance to practice for the real exams, bringing the correct pens and equipment and learning how to follow JCQ regulations in full.  Your mock results could contribute towards GCSE grade in the event that exams are cancelled for any reason and may be used to predict your grade for 6th form/college applications.

Before examinations begin you will be issued with a timetable showing the dates and times of all your examinations, together with room and seat numbers. Check it carefully and if you think there is anything wrong with any of your exam arrangements (room, tier, access arrangements etc), please come to the Exams Office ASAP and we will help you. Please do not delay coming to see us if you think there is a problem – we are much more likely to be able to resolve any problems the sooner you come and see us.

If you lose your paper timetable you are responsible for obtaining a replacement from either Pastoral or Sixth Form.

Be aware that you will not be permitted entry to an exam room without your timetable, which must be intact/legible, including all of the ID information and photograph (if any). Please do not write anything on your timetable as this could be viewed as malpractice.

Subject specific access arrangements:

Some students are only allowed to use a Word Processor and/or Computer Reader in specific subjects. If that’s the case, the arrangement will have asterisks ( * ) around it on your timetable, and the subjects it can be used in will be listed underneath. For example CR = En, Et : WP = Hi indicate the student has CR (Computer Reader) for English Language, English Literature, and History only. They also have WP (Word Processor), but only for History.

Your Statement of Entry lists all the exams that you have been entered for. This information should be checked carefully once received to make sure you have been entered for the right exams at the right level or tier. If any of the information is incorrect, you must inform the Exams Team immediately.

You will also need to check that your name and date of birth are correct as it is your legal name that will be printed on your final certificates.

You can expect to receive your Statement of Entry from the school by end of January.

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  • To arrive outside the examination room at least 15 minutes before the published start time. You are under examination conditions from the moment you enter the examination room and must not communicate with other candidates in any way. Any form of misconduct or inappropriate behaviour will be reported to the awarding body and may result in disqualification.
  • To follow all instructions given by invigilators promptly and respectfully. You must not speak to, communicate with, or distract other candidates during the examination. You must not complete any details on the examination paper or booklet until instructed to do so.
  • To attend examinations in full and correct school uniform. Writing or notes on hands, arms or any other part of the body are not permitted.
  • To ensure that you arrive on time for all examinations. Candidates arriving after the published start time may not be permitted to sit the examination.
  • If you arrive late with a valid reason, the school may permit you to enter the examination room; however, the awarding body may still decide not to accept or mark your paper.
  • Candidates arriving after the examination has finished will not be permitted to sit the paper.
  • The school is under no obligation to contact home if you fail to attend an examination. 
  • In the event of a fire alarm or emergency evacuation, you must remain silent, stay under examination conditions and follow the instructions of the invigilators at all times.
  • To bring all equipment required for each examination, including black non-erasable pens, pencils, calculator, ruler, protractor and any other permitted materials. While a limited number of spare items may be available for emergencies or breakages, the school cannot guarantee replacement equipment for forgotten items. Correction fluid (e.g. Tippex) and correcting pens are not permitted.
  • Calculators used in examinations must be suitable for desk use, in working order, and free from stored information. Calculators must not contain dictionaries, formula banks, text retrieval functions, internet access or communication facilities, and may not be borrowed from another candidate during the examination.
  • To ensure that all unauthorised items, including mobile phones, watches (digital or analogue), earphones and revision materials, are not brought into the examination room unless specifically permitted under examination regulations. Any candidate found in possession of unauthorised items may be reported to the awarding body and could face disqualification, even if the electronic device is switched off and not in use.
  • Only clear pencil cases are permitted in the examination room. Bags and coats must be stored in lockers or designated storage areas. Food is not permitted unless authorised for medical reasons. Candidates may bring a clear bottle of water with all labels removed.

At the end of the examination: 

  • You may leave the examination room only when instructed and given permission to do so by an invigilator.
  • Candidates are expected to remain in the examination room until the end of the examination, even if they finish early. For official afternoon examinations, students are not permitted to leave before 2:30pm.
  • Where multiple examinations are taking place in the same room, you may be asked to remain seated quietly until all candidates have finished.
  • If leaving while others are still working, you must do so in silence and as instructed by the invigilators.
  • It is your responsibility to make appropriate travel arrangements if an examination finishes after the normal school day. Official examination start and finish times are determined by awarding body regulations, and the school cannot guarantee that students will finish in time to use school transport.

Access arrangements are pre-approved adjustments made for students with a specific need, disability, learning difficulty or medical condition that may affect their ability to access an examination. These arrangements are designed to remove barriers and provide a fair opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills. Access arrangements are awarded in line with examination board regulations and are based on evidence of a student’s normal way of working in school.

Examples of access arrangements include:

  • Reader – Someone who will read all of the examination questions and instructions to you.
  • Scribe – Someone who will write down your answers exactly as you dictate them.
  • Extra Time – An additional percentage of time added to the end of the examination to allow you more time to complete your work.
  • Word Processor – The use of a computer to type your answers instead of writing them by hand.
  • Rest Breaks – Supervised breaks during an examination to help you refocus. The time taken for these breaks is added to the end of the exam, so you do not lose any working time.

If you have been awarded access arrangements, details will be provided to you before your examinations and will appear on your individual exam timetable where applicable.

Generally, you will need the following for all exams:

  • Two black ballpoint pen(s) – no blue, gel or erasable/‘Frixion’ pens.
  • Pencil(s), pencil sharpener, eraser, highlighter and ruler.
  • Water bottle (small clear plastic with labels removed) – only water is allowed in the exam room; fizzy drinks, juice, energy drinks and other beverages are not permitted.
  • Transparent pencil case.
  • For certain exams (e.g. science and maths): Scientific calculator with lid removed (where the paper permits).
  • For certain exams (e.g. science and maths): Geometry set.

Invigilators are present to ensure that examinations run smoothly and that the integrity and security of the process are maintained. If you need to communicate with an invigilator, please raise your hand and they will attend to you quietly.

Invigilators are not permitted to explain or interpret any examination questions.

Please inform an invigilator immediately if:

  • You feel unwell during the examination or require use of the bathroom.
  • You require additional paper for your answers.
  • You experience any issue or difficulty during the examination.
  • You believe you have been issued with the incorrect question paper, the paper is incomplete or poorly reproduced, or your access arrangements have not been applied correctly.

Contingency dates are allocated in case of an event of national or significant local disruption to examinations in the UK. They are part of the Awarding Bodies’ standard contingency planning for examinations and candidates are expected to remain available in the event that the Awarding Body should invoke their contingency plan. Please make sure you are available on the following National Contingency Dates:

Wednesday 23rd June 2027 (ALL DAY)

If a student is absent from an examination due to illness or another valid medical reason, parents/carers must notify the school as soon as possible on the day of the exam. The student and parent will also be required to complete a JCQ Form 14 (Self-certification for candidates who have missed an examination). This must be completed and returned in paper format within 5 working days; please note that Parts B and C must be signed by hand, as electronic signatures are not permitted.

Where a student has visited a doctor or hospital, medical evidence of the absence (such as a discharge document or a letter from a medical professional) must be provided to the school within three days of the missed exam. Please be aware that some medical providers may charge for this documentation. If the student has not seen a medical professional, the completed self-certification form will be accepted as supporting evidence.

The school will then submit an application for Special Consideration to the relevant exam board(s). Where approved, the exam boards will take the student’s circumstances into account when determining the final grade. In cases where a student misses an examination but has completed, or is due to complete, other assessed components or examinations in the same subject, the awarding body may calculate an aggregated mark based on the evidence from the exams and/or units that have been completed.

Please note that Special Consideration cannot be guaranteed and all decisions are made by the awarding bodies in line with JCQ regulations.

Key points to note:

  • You are expected to make all reasonable efforts to get to the exam on time. Going on holiday, oversleeping, missing the bus or misreading the timetable do not qualify you for special consideration.
  • Some GPs will only give you a letter saying that you were too ill to sit an exam if you see them on the actual day of the exam.
  • Applications for special consideration must be submitted to the awarding body within seven days of the last examination in the relevant specification. Please visit/contact the exams office immediately if you miss your exam.
  • If you sit an exam but your performance is affected by illness, or by events beyond your control such as a bereavement in the family, the school can also apply for special consideration. You MUST visit/contact the exams office as soon as your exam is finished.

Things to be aware of:

  • Any adjustment awarded through special consideration is usually small, typically no more than 2% of the total available marks, and will not exceed 5%.
  • Special consideration is only applied to difficulties experienced at the time of the examination. Ongoing or long-term conditions, or issues arising during the revision period, do not qualify for additional marks.
  • The awarding of special consideration is at the discretion of the awarding body; there is no automatic entitlement to an adjustment.

You are not permitted to go to the toilet during the first 30 minutes of the exam, or the last 15 minutes. If you do need to use the toilet, please put your hand up and ask an invigilator who will arrange for you to be escorted to one.

You will be asked to check your paper and tier before the exam starts. If you think something is wrong, put your hand up and tell the invigilator immediately, so that it can be rectified. Do not complete the paper if you believe it is incorrect; alert an invigilator.

You will not be permitted to leave an examination before the exam is due to end. If you are sure that you have finished the paper, use any time remaining to check over your answers. You must sit quietly facing forwards. Do not make any noise or distract other candidates in any way, as this can be classed as malpractice.

A-level and GCSE results are available for collection in the school hall on the official exam board results days. Further details on the process for this will be sent you out to you nearer the time. We will not provide results over the phone or email, so please do not telephone or email the school.

If you wish for another person to collect your results on your behalf, written and signed permission must be provided to the exams office in advance of results day. They must bring ID with them on the day.

Results may also be posted; however, a stamped, addressed C5 envelope must be provided to the exams office prior to results day. Results will be posted on the day itself and placed in a letterbox.

Alternatively, your results will also be available to access on the Student Portal on results after 2pm.

Certificates for A-Level and GCSE (or equivalent) exam results received in Summer 2026 can be collected from the main Reception desk from December 1st 2026.

Please do not forget to collect your certificates. You will need them for your college/university entry or any application for a job in the future.

PLEASE NOTE: Exam boards only expect us to keep certificates for a 12 month period. After this time, they can be destroyed and replacement certificates can only be obtained from the Exam Boards at a significant cost (approx. £45 per certificate).

At FUS our policy is to allow certificates to be collected within the first 6 months of issue free of charge, thereafter a total charge of £25 will apply.

If you are sending someone to collect the certificates for you, you must issue them with a signed note which shows that you have given them permission to do so and they need to bring ID.

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