Examinations are an important part of life at Key Stage 4. We want every student to approach them feeling well prepared, confident and clear about what is expected of them.
This page brings together the key information students, parents and carers need about examinations at The Hayfield School, including Pre-Public Examinations (PPEs), formal GCSE and vocational examinations, examination regulations and important guidance for candidates.
Our Examinations Officer is Mrs J Boundy, who oversees the administration of both our internal Pre-Public Examinations and external public examinations.
During Years 10 and 11, students complete Pre-Public Examinations, or PPEs, sometimes referred to as mock examinations.
Where appropriate, PPEs are conducted in conditions that closely reflect those students will experience during their final examinations. This gives students valuable experience of examination routines and expectations before they sit their GCSE and vocational assessments.
PPEs are important, but not simply because they produce a grade.
They help students and their teachers understand what has been securely learned, where there may still be gaps in knowledge or understanding, and what needs to happen next. Teachers use this information alongside their wider knowledge of each student to inform teaching, intervention, revision and support.
For students, PPEs provide an opportunity to practise preparing for a series of examinations, develop effective revision habits, experience working under timed conditions and learn from their performance.
For these reasons, we ask students to approach PPEs with commitment and maturity. We also greatly value the support of parents and carers in encouraging good attendance, sensible preparation and healthy routines during examination periods.
Successful preparation does not begin a few days before an examination. Throughout Key Stage 4, students are supported by their subject teachers to build secure knowledge, practise examination techniques and develop increasingly effective approaches to independent study and revision.
As examination periods approach, students will receive clear information about timetables, arrangements and expectations. Subject teachers will also provide guidance about the most appropriate resources and revision strategies for their courses.
Our aim is to help students become increasingly independent and confident in managing their own preparation, while ensuring that appropriate support is available when they need it.
Formal GCSE and vocational examinations are governed by national regulations. It is therefore important that students and families understand the rules surrounding examination conduct, equipment, attendance and the use of electronic devices.
Students receive guidance from school before each examination season and should read the relevant information carefully.
The links and documents on this page provide the latest examination information and guidance for students and their families.
Students at The Hayfield School study qualifications offered by a number of awarding bodies. The awarding body varies according to the subject and qualification being studied.
The information below identifies the awarding body for each of our current Key Stage 4 courses. Students should always follow the guidance and resources provided by their subject teachers when preparing for examinations.
Questions about the administration of examinations can be directed to our Examinations Officer, Mrs J Boundy. For questions relating to the content of a particular course, preparation or subject-specific assessment, students and families should contact the relevant subject teacher.
PPEs are internal examinations taken by students during Years 10 and 11. They provide valuable experience of examination conditions and help students and teachers identify strengths, gaps in knowledge and areas requiring further development before the final examinations.
It is perfectly normal for young people to experience some worry as examinations approach. Parents and carers can help by encouraging a sensible and manageable approach to revision, maintaining good routines around sleep, food and exercise, and helping to keep examinations in perspective. Perhaps most importantly, make time to listen and avoid allowing revision to become a constant source of pressure at home. If you are concerned that your child is finding examination pressure particularly difficult to manage, please contact us so that we can consider how best to support them.
The NHS provides helpful advice specifically for parents and carers on supporting a child through examination stress, while YoungMinds has a detailed guide to supporting young people during the examination period.
NHS: Help your child beat exam stress
YoungMinds: Supporting your child during exam time
Very seriously. PPEs provide important information that teachers use to plan teaching, intervention and support. However, they are also part of the learning process. Their purpose is not simply to produce a grade, but to help students understand where they are and what they need to do next.
For public examinations, parents and carers should contact the school as soon as possible if illness or another exceptional circumstance prevents their child from attending. Examination boards have strict regulations regarding absence, and the school will advise families about what happens next. Different arrangements apply to PPEs.
We strongly advise families not to book holidays during the public examination period. Examination dates are set nationally and cannot be rearranged by the school to accommodate holidays or other personal arrangements. Families should check the published examination timetable carefully before making any travel plans and should be aware that national examination arrangements can include designated contingency sessions or days. Students need to remain available until the end of the published examination period, including any applicable contingency dates.
Details of the examination period and individual examination timetables will be communicated to students and families. If you are considering making travel arrangements and are in any doubt, please check with the school before booking.
Students will be reminded about the equipment required for their examinations. As a general principle, students should arrive properly equipped and ready to begin. Some subjects may require additional specialist equipment, and students will be advised where this is the case.
JCQ regulations concerning electronic devices are very strict. Students receive clear guidance from school about prohibited items, including mobile phones and watches. Students and families should familiarise themselves with the Electronic Devices and Examination Warning guidance available on this page.
Examination timetables and other important information will be made available to students and families ahead of each examination period. Students should check their individual timetable carefully, including the date and start time of each examination.
The awarding body varies according to the subject and qualification. Our Examination Subjects & Awarding Bodies section provides details of the qualifications currently studied at The Hayfield School.
Access arrangements are agreed adjustments for eligible students with particular needs. They are governed by JCQ regulations and must reflect a student’s normal way of working alongside the relevant evidence and eligibility requirements. Where appropriate, the school will work with students and families to ensure the correct arrangements are in place.
We will provide students and families with information about Results Day arrangements in advance. Information about post-results services, including reviews of marking and access to scripts where applicable, will also be made available at the appropriate time.
To follow.
Public examinations are governed by strict national regulations. It is important that students understand these requirements, particularly those relating to mobile phones, watches and other electronic devices. We provide clear guidance to students before each examination period and ask families to reinforce these expectations at home.
The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) sets the regulations that schools and students must follow for public examinations and assessments. Students should familiarise themselves with the guidance relevant to their qualifications. We will also explain these expectations to students in school so that they understand what is required of them.
The awarding bodies responsible for GCSE and vocational qualifications collect and use certain information about students in order to administer examinations, assessments and qualifications. The document below explains how this information is used, stored and protected, together with students’ rights in relation to their personal information.
