Examination Policy - Al Maha Academy

Examination Policy For Ta’allum Schools

Year 2015-2016

POLICY

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Examination Policy September 2015

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Table of Contents

Examinations responsibilities .......................................................................................................................................... 5

The tests and statutory qualifications offered ................................................................................................................ 6

Examinations seasons and timetables ............................................................................................................................. 7

Entries, entry details and late entries .............................................................................................................................. 7

Examinations fees ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..7

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), special needs and access arrangements…………….………………………………………..8

Estimated grades .……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..8

Managing invigilators, examination days and the terminal assessment rule ……………………………………………………………..8

Students, clash students and special consideration …………………………………………………………………………………………………..9

Coursework, Controlled Assessment and appeals against internal assessments …………………..…………………………………..9

Results, enquiries about results (EARs) and access to scripts (ATS) …………………………………………………………………………..9

Certificates ………..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..9


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1. Taállum Vision, Mission and Motto

Taállum Group’s Vision We aspire towards being a progressive institution of learning experiences by offering a quality education based on an Islamic ethos that aims to serve humanity. Taállum Group’s Mission To establish premier educational institutions which are committed to a unique brand of holistic education. Our goal is to help every child to learn and acquire Islamic knowledge alongside building a solid foundation in all academic subjects. This will help them develop and gain true Islamic values and thereby make a valuable, correct moral and social contribution to the community in which they live. Taállum Group’s Motto ”Creative learners today, our future leaders tomorrow”


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1. Examinations responsibilities Head of Centre (Principal or nominated person) Overall responsibility for the Academy as an Exam Centre Examinations Officer

o Manages the administration of external and internal exams and analysis of exam results. o Advises the SMT, Heads of subject and class teachers and other relevant support staff on annual exam

timetables and application procedures as set by the various exam boards. o Communicates regularly with staff concerning imminent deadlines and events o Ensures that students and their parents are informed of and understand those aspects of the exam

timetable that will affect them o Consults with the SMT to ensure that necessary coursework/controlled assessment is completed on

time and in accordance with exam board regulations o Provides and confirms detailed data on estimated entries o Is responsible for reporting all suspicions or actual incidents of malpractice. o Receives, checks and stores securely all exam papers and completed scripts o Identifies and manages exam timetable clashes o Accounts for income and expenditures relating to all exam costs/charges o Prepares and presents reports to the SMT showing results achieved in relation to expected grades and

comparable data for previous years o Submits students’ coursework/controlled assessment marks, tracks despatch and stores returned

coursework and any other material required by the appropriate awarding bodies correctly and on schedule

o Arranges for dissemination of exam results and certificates to students and forwards any appeals/re-mark requests

o Maintains systems and processes to support the timely entry of students for their exams.

Heads of Subjects

o Organisation of teaching and learning.

o External validation of courses followed at Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5.

o Guidance and pastoral oversight of students who are unsure about exam entries or amendments to entries.

o Involvement in post-results procedures.

o Accurate completion of coursework mark sheets and declaration sheets.

o Involvement of teachers in the completion of entries.

o Accurate completion of entry and all other mark sheets and adherence to deadlines as set by the Exams Officer.

Teachers


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o Notification of access arrangements (as soon as possible after the start of the course).

o Submission of students’ names to Heads of subjects.

Knowledge Center Coordinator

o Liaises directly with Heads of subjects regarding students requiring Access Arrangements o Administers Access Arrangements and makes applications for special consideration using the exam

board regulations relating to students who are eligible for adjustments in examinations

o Identification and testing of students, requirements for Access Arrangements.

o Provision of additional support — with spelling, reading, mathematics, dyslexia or essential skills, hearing impairment, English for speakers of other languages, IT equipment — to help students achieve their course aims.

o Lead invigilator/invigilators

o Collection of exam papers and other material from the exams office before the start of the exam.

o Collection of all Access Arrangement exam papers in the correct order at the end of the exam and their return to the exams office. Students

o Confirmation and signing of entries.

o Understanding coursework regulations and signing a declaration that authenticates the coursework/controlled assessments as their own. 2. The External Tests and qualifications offered

o The External tests and qualifications offered by Ta’allum Schools are decided by the Director, Principal and the VPs. The External tests and qualifications offered are Cambridge English, KET & PET for Schools, Primary and Secondary Checkpoint exams, IGCSE and AS level. The subjects offered for IGCSE and AS level qualifications in any academic year may be found in the Information to Parents Booklet and IGCSE Policy for Ta’allum Schools for that year. If there has been a change of syllabus from the previous year, the Ta’allum Exam board and the Exams Officer for each academy must be informed by mid-September.

At Key Stage 3 – non statutory

o All IGCSE students will take core subjects Arabic as first language/ Arabic Foreign Language, English as second language, mathematics, and two science. Students will choose two extra subjects from Fine Art, Business or ICT. The Academy will consider the use of intervention or booster strategies in connection with any student who are unlikely to attain the minimum level.


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At Key Stage 4 o All students will be entitled, and enabled, to achieve an entry for qualifications from an external

awarding body if they successfully pass 5 IGCSE level subjects. (Please refer to Assessment Policy 2014-2015, page 31 iGCSE and AS requirements, bullet point 3 for exceptions to this rule)

3. Examinations Timeline and timetables 3.1 Examinations Timeline

o Internal End of Semester exams are scheduled in January and June. External exams are scheduled in November, January, March, May and June. All internal exams are held under external exam conditions unless otherwise agreed by the Head of Centre. 3.2 Timetables

o Once confirmed by the exam board and the Director, the Exams Officer will circulate the exam timetables for internal exams and external exams. 4. Entries, entry details and late entries 4.1 Entries

o Student exam entries are confirmed by the Head of Department. Students, or parents/carers, cannot request a subject entry, change of level or withdrawal other than in exceptions circumstances (to be confirmed by the Principal / VP)

o The Centre does accept entries from external students. (refer to private candidates policy). 4.2 Late entries

o Entry deadlines are circulated to the exams officer to head of department. All late entries should be signed and agreed by principal and VP.

5. Examinations fees

The Centre will pay all normal exam fees on behalf of students Cambridge English KET & PET for Schools, Primary and Secondary Checkpoint Exams but IGCSE students and AS Level students will be charged for their packages as per the fee set by Ta’allum. Late entry or amendment fees are paid by students.


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6. Access Arrangements

Making special arrangements for candidates to take exams is the responsibility of the Head of Knowledge Centre and the Exams Officer. Submitting completed access arrangement applications to the awarding bodies is the responsibility of Head of Knowledge Centre. Rooming for access arrangement candidates will be arranged by the Head of Knowledge Centre with the Exams Officer. Invigilation and support for access arrangement candidates will be organised by Head of Knowledge Centre with the Exams Officer.

Estimated grades Teachers will submit estimated grades to the Exams Officer when requested to.

7. Managing invigilators and exam days 7.1 Managing invigilators The arrangement of invigilators is the responsibility of the Head of Department, in consultation with the Examinations Officer. Invigilators are briefed by the Head of Department on invigilation procedures.

7.2 Exam days All Invigilators must adhere to procedures set by the Exam Board and approved by the Principal / VP. 8. Candidates, clash candidates and special consideration 8.1 Candidates The Centre’s published rules on acceptable dress, behaviour and candidates’ use of mobile phones and all electronic devices apply at all times. Candidates’ personal belongings remain their own responsibility and the Centre accepts no liability for their loss or damage. Disruptive candidates are dealt with in accordance with school policy. 8.2 Clash candidates The Exams Officer will be responsible as necessary for supervising escorts, identifying a secure venue and arranging supervision.


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8.3 Special Consideration Should a candidate be ill before an exam, suffer bereavement or other trauma, be taken ill during the exam itself or otherwise disadvantaged or disturbed during an exam, then it is the candidate’s responsibility to alert the Centre, the Exams Officer, or the Exam Invigilator, to that effect. The candidate must support any special consideration claim with appropriate evidence within three days of the exam, for example a letter from the candidate’s doctor. The Exams Officer will then forward a completed special consideration form to the relevant awarding body within seven days of the exam. 9. Results, enquiries about results and access to scripts Candidates will receive individual results slips on results days at the centre. The provision of staff on results days is the responsibility of the Head of Centre. 9.2 Enquiries About Results (EARs) EARs may be requested by Centre staff or candidates if there are reasonable grounds for believing there has been an error in marking. If a result is queried, the Exams Officer, teaching staff and Head of Centre will investigate the feasibility of asking for a re-mark at the Centre’s expense. When the Centre does not uphold an EAR, a candidate may apply to have an enquiry carried out. If a candidate requires this against the advice of subject staff, they will be charged. 9.3 Access to Scripts (ATS) After the release of results, candidates may ask subject staff to request the return of papers within three days’ scrutiny of the results. Centre staff may also request scripts for investigation or for teaching purposes. For the latter, the consent of candidates must be obtained. GCSE/A level re-marks cannot be applied for once a script that has been returned. 10. Certificates Certificates may be collected in person or by a third party - provided they have been authorised to do so. Replacement certificates are only issued if a candidate agrees to pay the costs incurred. The Centre retains certificates for one year.

Examination Policy - Al Maha Academy

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